Some slumps are temporary. A bad month, a rough stretch, maybe even a full season—great players usually find a way to pull themselves out. But in baseball, once a player loses their rhythm, it can be nearly impossible to get it back.
This list is full of guys who had talent, hype, and plenty of opportunity, but when the slump hit, the bounce-back never came. Whether it was injuries, confidence, or just plain bad luck, these players hit a wall and never really recovered.
19. Travis Snider
Once hyped as the next big thing in Toronto, Snider’s early promise quickly faded. After struggling at the plate, he never recaptured the form that made scouts so excited.
18. Delmon Young
Young had flashes of brilliance but struggled with consistency and plate discipline. His post-slump career never quite lived up to the early expectations.
17. Jason Bay
Bay went from All-Star to afterthought in the blink of an eye. Once he lost his power stroke, his decline was fast and irreversible.
16. Ian Desmond
Desmond had some solid seasons, but once his production dipped, it never really returned. He bounced around teams without ever bouncing back.
15. Chris Davis
That one monster season bought Davis years of rope, but the slump that followed was brutal. He never found his swing again and became a cautionary tale about long-term deals.
14. Matt Wieters
He came into the league with enormous hype but never quite lived up to it. When his bat cooled off, it stayed cold for good.
13. Jonathan Schoop
Schoop had a couple of strong years, but once his bat went quiet, it didn’t make much noise again. He faded out without much resistance.
12. Dan Uggla
Uggla hit home runs and struck out a lot, but when the contact disappeared, so did his career. He never adjusted to the slump that swallowed his production.
11. Cody Bellinger (pre-Chicago bounce)
After an MVP season, Bellinger’s swing vanished seemingly overnight. It took years and a change of scenery before any signs of recovery, though many wrote him off long before then.
10. Jackie Bradley Jr.
An elite glove kept him around, but his bat went into a deep freeze. Once the slump hit, there was no coming back offensively.
9. Michael Morse
Morse mashed for a season or two but couldn’t maintain that momentum. When his bat cooled, he never heated up again.
8. Rick Ankiel (as a hitter)
Ankiel’s transition from pitcher to hitter was incredible—until it wasn’t. The magic ran out, and his bat never bounced back.
7. Wil Myers
There were flashes of potential, but Myers couldn’t stay consistent. Once the slump began, it lingered for far too long.
6. Nomar Mazara
Big power, big expectations—but Mazara never lived up to the hype. His career hit a stall and never got going again.
5. Mark Trumbo
Trumbo could crush the ball, but once pitchers figured him out, his numbers plummeted. The slump set in and refused to leave.
4. Dustin Ackley
A top prospect who looked like a future star, Ackley just couldn’t put it all together. When the struggles started, they never really stopped.
3. Jesus Montero
There was so much buzz around Montero, but once he lost his approach at the plate, he was never the same. The slump became the story.
Read More: Ranking the 25 Highest-Paid MLB Stars Right Now
2. Billy Butler
He was once a key bat in the Royals’ lineup, but his game didn’t evolve with the times. When the decline began, it snowballed quickly.
Read More: 15 Most Unlucky Coaches in Sports History
1. Eric Hosmer
Hosmer had one great postseason and cashed in big, but the production dipped fast. Once the slump took hold, he never quite found his way back to relevance.
Read More: The 20 Most Delusional MLB Hitters to Ever Play the Game
