15 MLB Players Who Were Never the Same After an Injury

Baseball may not have the brutal collisions of football, but injuries can still derail even the most promising careers. From devastating arm injuries to serious lower-body issues, some of MLB’s brightest stars saw their careers altered forever after a single setback.

Here are 15 MLB players who were never the same after an injury.

15. Grady Sizemore (OF)

Grady Sizemore was one of baseball’s best all-around players in the mid-2000s, earning three All-Star selections and two Gold Gloves. However, knee and back injuries robbed him of his speed and power, leading to a steep decline. Despite multiple comebacks, he was never the same player.

14. Matt Harvey (SP)

Once dubbed “The Dark Knight,” Matt Harvey was an ace for the New York Mets, dominating in 2013 and leading them to the 2015 World Series. However, Tommy John surgery and thoracic outlet syndrome took a toll on his velocity and command, leaving him a shell of his former self.

13. Troy Tulowitzki (SS)

Troy Tulowitzki was on a Hall of Fame trajectory, known for his elite bat and Gold Glove defense. Unfortunately, recurring injuries—especially to his legs—kept him off the field for long stretches, and he was forced into early retirement by age 34.

12. Mark Prior (SP)

Mark Prior was supposed to be the next great pitcher, dazzling in 2003 with a 2.43 ERA for the Chicago Cubs. But shoulder injuries soon followed, and despite multiple comeback attempts, he never regained his dominance and was out of MLB by age 26.

11. Don Mattingly (1B)

Don Mattingly was one of the best hitters of the 1980s, winning an MVP in 1985. However, a chronic back injury limited his power and forced him into early retirement. While still a Yankees legend, his numbers could have been even greater if not for his health issues.

10. Buster Posey (C)

Buster Posey had a phenomenal career, but after suffering a gruesome ankle injury in a 2011 home plate collision, his power numbers were never quite the same. While he adjusted his game and remained productive, the injury forced him to modify his catching style and impacted his offensive output.

9. Rick Ankiel (SP/OF)

Rick Ankiel’s career was derailed in one of the strangest ways possible. After an elbow injury and the yips ruined his pitching career, he reinvented himself as an outfielder. While his comeback was impressive, he never lived up to his early potential on the mound.

8. Eric Davis (OF)

Eric Davis was a five-tool superstar in the late 1980s, but injuries—especially a lacerated kidney in 1990—took their toll. Though he continued to play, he never had the same explosive speed or power that made him an MVP-caliber player.

7. Bo Jackson (OF)

Bo Jackson was one of the greatest athletes ever, excelling in both MLB and the NFL. However, a devastating hip injury in football robbed him of his speed and power, limiting his baseball career and cutting short his two-sport dominance.

6. Kerry Wood (SP)

Kerry Wood burst onto the scene in 1998 with a 20-strikeout game, but elbow injuries—including Tommy John surgery—kept him from reaching his full potential. While he reinvented himself as a reliever, he never became the ace many expected.

5. Nomar Garciaparra (SS)

Nomar Garciaparra was on a Hall of Fame trajectory before wrist and leg injuries sapped his production. Once a perennial .300 hitter, he struggled with injuries later in his career and never regained his All-Star form.

4. Johan Santana (SP)

Johan Santana was one of the best pitchers of his generation, winning two Cy Young Awards. However, a torn anterior capsule in his shoulder ended his dominance, and despite a brief comeback attempt, he was never the same after his 2012 no-hitter.

3. Prince Fielder (1B)

Prince Fielder was one of baseball’s most feared sluggers, but a neck injury forced him into an early retirement at just 32 years old. While he still put up strong numbers before his injury, he likely had several more elite seasons left.

2. Tony Conigliaro (OF)

Tony Conigliaro was a young star for the Boston Red Sox before a 1967 fastball to the face shattered his cheekbone and affected his vision. Though he attempted a comeback, he was never the same hitter, and his promising career was cut short.

1. Sandy Koufax (SP)

Drysdale (left), with Dodgers announcer Vin Scully and former teammate Sandy Koufax, during spring training 1985 — Openverse

Sandy Koufax remains one of the greatest pitchers ever, but arthritis in his left arm forced him into retirement at just 30 years old. Had he remained healthy, he could have added even more to his legendary resume.