Baseball is a game of patience, power, and precision — but sometimes, hype outweighs reality by about 60 feet, 6 inches. For every can’t-miss prospect or “next big thing” slugger, there were plenty of guys who swung for the fences and barely touched the ball.
These hitters had all the buzz, the big expectations, and the promotional posters… but not nearly enough actual hits. Some struck out in style, others disappeared quietly, but all of them left fans asking the same question: “Wait, that was it?”
20. Jo Adell
Jo Adell showed up with five-tool hype and highlight-reel athleticism but forgot the “consistently hit the baseball” part. His swing looks beautiful, but the results have mostly been a whiff.
19. Brandon Wood
Brandon Wood tore up the minors and then totally melted once he hit the big leagues. Every at-bat felt like watching a firework that never quite exploded.
18. Jarred Kelenic
Jarred Kelenic was supposed to be Seattle’s next superstar, but he struggled to even put the ball in play. The talent is there, but the bat speed and actual contact seem to have missed the flight.
17. Mike Olt
Mike Olt had the classic power prospect glow that blinded teams for a while. Once he got to MLB pitching, though, it was like he had never seen a curveball before.
16. Chris Carter
Chris Carter could crush a baseball a mile if he ever managed to hit it. Unfortunately, that “if” was carrying way too much weight throughout his career.
15. Lewis Brinson
Lewis Brinson was supposed to be a franchise cornerstone, but he ended up being more of a cautionary tale. He had the look, the speed, and the swing… but not nearly enough hits.
14. Jesus Montero
Jesus Montero came with sky-high Yankees hype and left with barely a ripple. His bat was supposed to be his ticket, but even Triple-A pitchers gave him fits.
13. Kyle Blanks
Kyle Blanks looked like he was built in a lab to smash baseballs, but good luck finding the part where they installed consistent hitting ability. The size was there; the contact definitely was not.
12. J.P. Arencibia
J.P. Arencibia could launch some moonshots, but watching him try to string together consistent contact was like watching someone play baseball underwater. It just never quite came together.
11. Dustin Ackley
Dustin Ackley was billed as a can’t-miss bat out of college, but MLB pitchers made him look very, very missable. He had the swing… it just didn’t seem to come with a GPS.
10. Clint Frazier
Clint Frazier had the bat speed of a superhero in theory, but somehow couldn’t keep up with big-league fastballs. The Yankees’ hype machine definitely worked harder than he did at the plate.
9. Trevor Plouffe
Trevor Plouffe was streaky enough to make you believe sometimes, but most days, he was swinging like someone had blindfolded him first. The raw power flashes were cool; the regular whiffs, not so much.
8. Byron Buxton
Byron Buxton is a human highlight reel in the field, but at the plate, it’s often a guessing game. When he makes contact, it’s majestic… it’s just that you have to wait a long time between the magic shows.
7. Chris Davis
Chris Davis had one monster year and then spent the next few seasons looking like he was swinging a tree trunk underwater. His strikeout totals became an art form unto themselves.
6. Keon Broxton
Keon Broxton was athletic enough to make you think he could be a star if he ever hit the ball. Spoiler: he rarely hit the ball.
5. Jorge Soler
Jorge Soler can absolutely destroy a baseball when he guesses right. The problem is, it’s usually a guess, and the misses can get pretty ugly.
4. Mark Reynolds
Mark Reynolds basically had three true outcomes: home run, walk, or hilarious strikeout. He was the king of “close your eyes and swing as hard as you can” baseball.
3. Franmil Reyes
Franmil Reyes has enough raw power to make you think he’s a future MVP for about two weeks at a time. Then he reminds you why he’s a permanent threat to lead the league in strikeouts instead.
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2. Joey Gallo
Joey Gallo has made a career out of being all-or-nothing, with a heavy lean toward the “nothing” side. When he connects, it’s beautiful, but most of the time, it’s just a long walk back to the dugout.
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1. Javier Báez
Javier Báez might have the flashiest tags and the best slides, but his plate discipline is a game of roulette. Every at-bat is an adventure, and too often it ends with him swinging at a pitch closer to the on-deck circle than the strike zone.
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