Pitchers are supposed to be protected, preserved, and nurtured—at least in theory. But for some of these guys, it felt like they were thrown to the wolves way too soon and never fully recovered.
From teenage flamethrowers to overworked workhorses, MLB history is filled with arms that burned bright before flaming out fast. Whether it was sky-high pitch counts, constant short rest, or playoff pressure at a young age, these pitchers had their careers reshaped—if not wrecked—by early overuse.
13. José Fernández
Fernández looked like the next great ace before tragedy struck, but even before his death, he had already dealt with a major elbow injury. The Marlins rode his electric arm hard, and it’s hard not to wonder what a more cautious approach might have meant.
12. Mark Prior
Prior had ace-level stuff and the polish to match, but Dusty Baker’s usage in the early 2000s became legendary—in the worst way. After throwing over 200 innings as a 22-year-old, his arm was never the same.
11. Dontrelle Willis
The D-Train was one of the most exciting rookie pitchers in years, with a funky delivery and infectious energy. But the Marlins leaned on him heavily from the jump, and his command and velocity faded fast.
10. Kerry Wood
Wood’s 20-strikeout game is still iconic, but the Cubs didn’t exactly treat him with kid gloves. He threw 166 innings as a rookie and followed that up with years of arm troubles that derailed what could’ve been a Hall of Fame career.
9. Félix Hernández
King Félix debuted as a teenager and carried the Mariners for a decade, often with little help. By the time he hit his early 30s, all those 110-pitch outings had taken a visible toll.
8. Brandon Webb
Webb won a Cy Young and was one of the most dependable arms in the game for a short stretch. But he logged over 200 innings in five straight seasons and broke down quickly after that.
7. Tim Lincecum
The Freak was must-watch TV, but his small frame wasn’t built to sustain the innings load he took on with the Giants. His decline was sudden and steep after just a few dominant years.
6. Johan Santana
Santana was the best pitcher in baseball for a stretch, but injuries caught up after some brutal workloads in Minnesota and New York. That no-hitter with the Mets was a magical moment—and possibly the final nail in the coffin for his shoulder.
5. Fernando Valenzuela
Fernandomania was real, and the Dodgers were all-in on their teen sensation from the get-go. He threw a staggering number of innings early on, and while he stuck around, the magic faded too soon.
4. Rick Ankiel
Ankiel wasn’t ruined physically but mentally, and that still counts when it comes to overuse and pressure. The Cardinals threw him into a playoff firestorm at 21, and his control completely vanished.
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3. Steve Avery
Avery was the baby of that stacked Braves rotation and looked just as good as the rest, at first. But after a few seasons of being leaned on in October, his effectiveness disappeared before age 30.
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2. Gary Nolan
Nolan was throwing complete games at 19 and was already an ace for the Big Red Machine. But after some ridiculous workloads, his arm just couldn’t keep up with the demands.
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1. Dwight Gooden
Doc’s rookie season was one of the most electrifying in MLB history, but the Mets let him run wild at 19 and 20. Combine the innings with off-field issues, and he was never quite the same pitcher again.
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