Baseball loves a prodigy. A hot month, a viral highlight, a few 450-foot bombs—and suddenly a 21-year-old is being called the face of the franchise.
But sometimes the hype machine moves faster than the player’s development. Here are times the baseball world handed out the crown a little too early, only to watch things fizzle out before greatness ever truly arrived.
13. Matt Moore
After his electric debut with the Rays, Moore was viewed as the next big lefty ace. But control issues and arm problems derailed what looked like a golden career.
12. Joba Chamberlain
Joba Mania was real—he had the stuff, the intensity, the name. But between role changes and injuries, the hype never became long-term success.
11. Delmon Young
He was the first overall pick and billed as a generational talent. He had some big moments but never became the star everyone expected.
10. Michael Fulmer
Fulmer won Rookie of the Year and looked like an anchor in Detroit’s rotation. But injuries took a toll, and he never returned to that early form.
9. Wily Mo Peña
The power was ridiculous—he could hit balls into orbit. But that raw strength never translated into consistent production.
8. Kyle Drabek
He was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Roy Halladay to Philly. Unfortunately, he never lived up to the pressure or his top-prospect status.
7. Dustin Ackley
Ackley was the second overall pick and an on-base machine in college. But when he got to the bigs, the hit tool just didn’t stick.
6. Scott Kingery
The Phillies gave him a big contract before he ever played a game, expecting a do-it-all spark plug. Instead, he struggled to find a role—and consistent playing time.
5. Jason Heyward
Heyward hit a home run in his first MLB at-bat and was instantly labeled the next big thing. While he’s had a solid career, he never quite became the superstar many predicted.
4. Mark Appel
Appel went first overall in 2013 but struggled to get traction in the minors. He retired without ever pitching in the majors—then made a comeback years later, but the hype was long gone.
3. Tyler Glasnow
The tools are unreal and the upside is still tantalizing, but health has always held him back. Every time it looks like he’s about to dominate, something stalls the momentum.
2. Byron Buxton
Buxton was hailed as a five-tool phenom and future MVP. And while the flashes have been jaw-dropping, injuries have made his career one giant tease.
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1. Stephen Strasburg
Strasburg’s debut was legendary, and for a moment he looked like baseball’s savior. He won a World Series and was elite when healthy, but his body just never held up for the long haul.
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