Baseball is a brutal sport when it comes to longevity, especially on the mound. One day, you’re mowing down batters like it’s nothing, and the next, your fastball barely hits 88, and the ERA won’t stop climbing.
For these 23 pitchers, the fall from grace wasn’t a slow fade—it was a shocking, sudden collapse. They were once feared aces or lights-out closers, but then it all unraveled in what felt like the blink of an eye.
23. Ubaldo Jiménez
He went from untouchable to unwatchable seemingly overnight. That dominant 2010 version never made a return appearance.
22. Tim Lincecum
The Freak had electric stuff and two Cy Youngs, then the velocity disappeared, and so did the magic. His decline was as fast as his fastball once was.
21. Matt Harvey
For a stretch, he looked like the next Mets legend. But injuries and inconsistency turned the “Dark Knight” into a Gotham afterthought.
20. Dontrelle Willis
The D-Train came in hot and had a smile to match his stuff. Then the control issues showed up and the train derailed fast.
19. Danny Salazar
He had the tools to be an All-Star for years. But arm troubles and inconsistency shut the door on what could’ve been a brilliant run.
18. Rich Harden
When he was healthy, he was filthy. The problem? That “healthy” window closed way too soon.
17. John Axford
He was a dominant closer with flair. Then his ERA ballooned, and the strike zone seemed to shrink on him.
16. Esteban Loaiza
He had one incredible year that came out of nowhere. Unfortunately, everything that followed made it clear it was a fluke.
15. Brandon Webb
For a few years, he was one of the best in the business. Then shoulder issues ended everything in an instant.
14. Trevor Cahill
Early success hinted at a long, productive career. But the drop-off was fast and never really reversed.
13. Jair Jurrjens
He had All-Star-level command and presence. Then came injuries, velocity loss, and a fast exit from relevance.
12. Jonathan Sánchez
Remember that no-hitter? That was the high point. After that, it was a mess of wildness and missed opportunities.
11. Mike Pelfrey
At one point, he looked like a future ace. But hitters figured him out, and the falloff was steep.
10. Ricky Romero
He had a fantastic season that earned him an All-Star nod. Then his command vanished and he couldn’t get out anymore.
9. Scott Kazmir
He was an exciting young lefty with strikeout stuff. But the drop-off was real, fast, and confusing for everyone.
8. Jeremy Hellickson
He won Rookie of the Year and had all the hype. Then the league adjusted, and he just couldn’t adjust back.
7. Ian Kennedy
He had one monster season that made people think he was for real. Sadly, that version of Kennedy was gone almost immediately.
6. Joe Blanton
He was once a dependable innings-eater with postseason cred. But the ERA explosion came out of nowhere and stuck around.
5. Francisco Liriano
He had flashes of dominance early and even in the middle of his career. Then his control issues caught up to him in a hurry.
4. Jason Schmidt
Big contract, big expectations, and early success. But injuries hit hard, and he was never the same again.
3. Mike Hampton
After a huge payday, things went downhill in a hurry. Injuries and a sudden loss of dominance made him one of baseball’s biggest letdowns.
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2. Carlos Zambrano
His fiery personality matched his pitching talent—until it didn’t. When things went south, they went way south.
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1. Tim Hudson
Hudson was a model of consistency for years, then hit a wall late in his career. It wasn’t a long decline—more like a sudden drop into mediocrity.
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