Every fan base knows the feeling—your team signs or drafts a pitcher hyped as the next ace, and then… well, let’s just say reality hits a little different. Sometimes it’s injuries, sometimes it’s control issues, and sometimes it’s just plain overhype.
These guys weren’t total busts (okay, maybe a few were), but they never quite lived up to the headlines, scouting reports, or expectations. Here are 15 pitchers who were never as good as advertised.
15. Ian Kennedy
He had a big breakout with Arizona and was instantly crowned the next big thing. The rest of his career was more “meh” than “must-see.”
14. A.J. Burnett
The stuff was electric, but the consistency never showed up. Every offseason, someone bought into the hype—and every season, it was a rollercoaster.
13. Mike Pelfrey
Drafted high, praised early, and then… it never really clicked. His ERA was allergic to staying under 4.50 for long.
12. Joba Chamberlain
The Joba Rules era was wild, but the production never matched the buzz. He bounced between roles and never found his groove.
11. Homer Bailey
With a name like Homer, maybe we should’ve known. He threw a couple of no-hitters, but mostly gave up way too many hits.
10. Jeff Weaver
He had the pedigree and the promise, but mostly just frustrated fans. Somehow he always looked like he was throwing batting practice.
9. Mark Prior
It’s tough, because the talent was legit. But the injuries piled up fast, and the superstar career everyone expected just never got off the ground.
8. Dontrelle Willis
The D-Train had the swagger and the funky delivery, but his control derailed him. That rookie year magic was never fully replicated.
7. Daniel Cabrera
He could throw 98 but had no idea where it was going. Every spring training brought hope, and every summer brought regret.
6. Matt Moore
He was supposed to be the next Rays ace, but it never quite panned out. Injuries didn’t help, but even when healthy, the dominance just wasn’t there.
5. Rick Ankiel (as a pitcher)
Before he reinvented himself as an outfielder, Ankiel’s pitching career was one giant what-if. The talent was real, but the control problems were overwhelming.
4. Brandon Morrow
He struck out the world when he was on, but “on” was rare. Every time he flashed brilliance, an injury or meltdown followed.
3. Phil Hughes
Yankees fans heard about Hughes for years before he arrived. When he finally did, the results were pretty underwhelming considering the hype.
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2. Edinson Volquez
He had moments of greatness, but never consistency. Every breakout season was followed by a head-scratching regression.
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1. Stephen Strasburg
Strasburg had electric stuff and a legendary debut, but his career never matched the enormous expectations. Injuries and inconsistency turned what could’ve been a Hall of Fame trajectory into a what-could-have-been story.
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