Major League Baseball is the cream of the crop for professional baseball. The best talent from all over the world flock to the United States and Canada for a chance at greatness on the diamond.
When it comes to drafting talent, it’s very different from how talent is drafted in the NFL and NBA, as the MLB draft occurs in the middle of the season. The drafted prospects make their way into the Minor League Baseball farm system until the MLB team that drafted them calls them up.
However, just like any league with drafts, the MLB has its fair share of busts that don’t last and sometimes never get called up to the big leagues.
Here are all 30 MLB Teams’ Biggest Draft Busts Who Will Go Down As the Worst of all time:
Which draft bust did your favorite MLB select that’s going to be ranked as the worst of all time?
Arizona Diamondbacks: Corey Myers
Myers is one of the biggest draft busts by the Diamondbacks, as they selected him fourth overall in the 1999 MLB Draft right out of high school. Myers was supposed to be the Diamondbacks’ savior at shortstop after a tough 65-97 finish.
Myers didn’t do much of anything in the Diamondbacks’ organization, as he was moved from shortstop to third base during his first professional season in the minors. Myers never made it above Triple-A, as the Diamondbacks never called him to the majors. Myers was an assistant softball coach at Auburn University under his father, Clint Myers, but resigned for personal reasons. To make matters worse, three-time All-Star Barry Zito went five picks later.
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Atlanta Braves: Josh Burrus
Burrus was a local kid from Marietta, GA, drafted by the Braves 29th overall in the 2001 MLB draft, right out of high school. The Braves thought he would become a power hitter. However, Burrus never became a power hitter during his time in the Braves farm system, as he had a 0.665 on-base percentage. Burrus was never called to the majors, as he bounced around different minor league teams and leagues during his professional career. He retired from baseball before he turned 27. The Braves missed out on All-Star talent David Wright, who was selected a few picks after Burruss by the New York Mets. Ouch!
Baltimore Orioles: Wade Townsend
Townsend was a star pitcher at Rice University, where he helped the Owls reach the College World Series before getting eliminated in the first round by Notre Dame. After a tough sophomore season in 2003, the Orioles drafted Townsend eighth overall in 2004.
However, Townsend and the Orioles never agreed to terms on a contract, and he never played in their farm system. Townsend returned to Rice and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, eighth overall in 2005. He did next to nothing in the minor leagues and retired from MLB in 2010, ending on a draft bust status within the league. Talk about a wasted draft pick by the O’s. The Orioles missed out on Jered Weaver, who was drafted four picks later, became a three-time All-Star, and pitched a No-Hitter in 2012.
Boston Red Sox: Andrew Yount
Yount is a former pitcher the Red Sox drafted 15th overall in 1995, hoping he would help them return to the World Series when he was ready for the majors. Yount did see some success in his rookie season in the minors, with an earned run average of 2.76 in 16 innings.
Unfortunately, Yount’s career got worse as he ended his tenure in the Red Sox’s farm system with an ERA of 6.29 and had more walks than strikeouts. The Red Sox released Yount and the Detroit Tigers tried their shot at a reclamation project, but it ultimately backfired. Yount was out of baseball before he turned 30 and finished his career with an ERA of 5.38 and a 3-6 record in the minors. The Red Sox missed out on the late Roy Halladay, who went two picks later and became a Hall of Famer by the end of his career.
Chicago Cubs: Ty Griffin
Griffin was a star at Georgia Tech and with USA Baseball, as he helped the team capture the gold medal against Japan in a 5-3 matchup in the 1988 Olympics. Griffin was drafted ninth overall by the Cubs in the 1988 MLB Draft, hoping he would develop into the team’s new superstar.
Griffin never developed into the superstar the Cubs hoped, as he never made it passed Double-A baseball in the minor leagues. One of the only highlights of Griffin’s career was landing on multiple baseball cards without playing in a Major League game.
Griffin was out of baseball by 1992. The future two-time All-Star Robin Ventura went one pick after Griffin to the Chicago White Sox. Future four-time World Series Champion Tino Martinez went five picks after Griffin, and both of those men were teammates of Griffin’s on the USA Baseball team that won gold in the 1988 Olympics.
Chicago White Sox: Carson Fulmer
Fulmer is a College World Series hero who helped the Vanderbilt Commodores win the 2014 CWS against the Virginia Cavaliers in three games. Fulmer was drafted by the White Sox with the eighth pick of the 2015 MLB Draft, despite concerns about his size.
Fulmer rose through the ranks quickly in the Minor Leagues before getting called up by the White Sox in 2016.
Unfortunately, Fulmer had an 8.63 ERA during his time with the MLB’s White Sox which resulted in him going in and out of Triple-A and the Majors for most of his time with the organization, thus resulting in a draft bust status for him.
Fulmer was released by the White Sox after 2019 and joined the Detroit Tigers in 2020. Fulmer has bounced around the MLB with stints with the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds and is currently on the Los Angeles Angels roster. Future All-Star Ian Happ would get drafted by the Chicago Cubs immediately after Fulmer.
Cincinnati Reds: Chad Mottola
The Reds drafted Molotta with very high hopes he would help turn the Reds back into a powerhouse. Instead, Mottola struggled in the majors, as he had an OBP of 0.263, 17 runs, and four home runs in his Major League career.
He had stints with the Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, and Florida Marlins. Mottola is famous for being drafted one pick before the New York Yankees selected Derek Jeter, who became a five-time World Series Champion and Hall of Famer. Mottola has since become a coach and has worked with the Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays as a hitting coach.
Cleveland Guardians: Mike Poehl
The ’80s weren’t kind to Cleveland as they had a 75-87 record in 1984 and an even worse 60-102 record in 1985. Cleveland selected Poehl ninth overall in the 1985 MLB Draft hoping he could help turn their misfortunes around. Despite Poehl’s height of 6’5”, he never made it to the majors as he was stuck in the minors and never made it higher than Double-A.
Poehl had an ERA of 3.62 during his seven years in professional baseball. Poehl hung up his cleats after 1991 when he was 26. Walt Weiss, an All-Star and a World Series Champion with the Oakland Athletics, went two picks after Poehl.
Colorado Rockies: Greg Reynolds
Reynolds was the second overall pick in the 2006 MLB Draft, hoping he would bolster the Rockies pitching unit. Evan Longoria, Max Scherzer, Tim Lincecum, Clayton Kershaw, and Andrew Miller were other stars drafted after Reynolds that same year. Reynolds made it to the Rockies roster twice in his career (2008 and 2011) and had a 2-8 record and an ERA of 8.13 in 14 games. Reynolds was 3-0 in 2011 in 13 games with an ERA of 6.19. Reynolds had stints with the Cincinnati Reds, the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan, and the El Paso Chihuahuas (the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres) in 2016. He was released in May of that year and has not played professional baseball ever since. He is now considered one of the MLB draft busts in the modern era.
Detroit Tigers: Kyle Sleeth
Sleeth was the can’t-miss pitching prospect the Tigers drafted in 2003 out of Wake Forest, where he was a superstar on the pitcher mound. Unfortunately, Sleeth never put it together in the Tigers’ farm system, as he had a 6.52 ERA and was 11-21. The Tigers were even worse in 2003, finishing with a 43-119 record. Sleeth went down with Tommy John surgery in 2005 and also missed time in 2006 while recovering. Sleeth retired from baseball in 2008. The Tigers missed out on Nick Markakis, Chad Cordero, and Chad Billingsley, who all became All-Stars in their careers.
Houston Astros: Mike Rosamond
Rosamond was drafted 42nd overall in the second round of the 1999 MLB draft by the Astros, hoping he would bring some serious hits against opposing pitchers in the Majors. Rosamond never made it to the majors in his career. His best season came in 2003 when he had a batting average of 0.273 with the Round Rock Express (who used to be affiliated with the Astros). After 2003, Roasmond had stints with the Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves, and Pittsburgh Pirates in their farm systems. Rosamond was out of baseball after 2006. Shortstop Brian Roberts was drafted eight picks after Rosamond by the Baltimore Orioles and became a two-time All-Star.
Kansas City Royals: Bubba Starling
Starling was a can’t-miss prospect drafted by the Royals right out of high school in a very star-stacked 2011 MLB Draft. Unlike many other MLB players drafted that year, Starling never became a star and now is widely viewed as a draft bust. Starling spent eight seasons in the Royals’ farm system battling injuries until he was called up to the majors in 2019.
When Starling made it to the majors, he struggled offensively, had a batting average of 0.204, had 17 RBIs, and hit five home runs during his tenure with the Royals. Starling retired in 2021 despite signing a minor league deal with the Royals. To make matters more insulting, the Royals missed out on Anthony Rendon, Francisco Lindor, Javier Báez, George Springer, the late José Fernández, Sonny Gray, and Trevor Story, who all became superstars in the MLB from the 2011 draft class.
Los Angeles Angels: Kaleb Cowart
Cowart was a superstar during his senior year in high school in the state of Georgia, as he had a 1.05 ERA with a 10-1 record as a pitcher and was just as strong of a hitter with a 0.654 batting average with 11 home runs and 59 RBI’s, at the time. The Angels scooped him up with the 18th pick of the 2010 MLB draft, hoping he could continue his incredible talents in the majors. Unfortunately, Cowart was very slow in his development, but did make it to the majors in 2015. Cowart had a batting average of 1.74, one home run, and four RBIs in his MLB debut. Cowart played far better in the minors than he did in the majors. Cowart signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees in 2019 but did next to nothing in their farm system. Cowart was released by the Yankees in 2023. Mike Foltynewicz (who was drafted one pick after Cowart) became an All-Star in 2018.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Darren Dreifort
Dreifort was a two-time All-American and the 1993 NCAA Player of the Year during his collegiate years at Wichita State University. Dreifort was drafted by the Dodgers second overall in 1993, and made his MLB debut in 1994 without appearing in the minors to develop.
Injuries pushed Dreifort out of the starting lineup and into the bullpen, where he did well. It wasn’t until Dreifort re-signed with the Dodgers in 2000 that things went south with a losing record and a history of injuries that derailed his career. Dreifort dealt with elbow reconstruction that kept him out of action until the end of 2002. Dreifort also dealt with hip and knee troubles which derailed his chances of being a starting pitcher.
Dreifort only had 26 starts after he signed his deal in 2000. Dreifort retired from baseball at 32 and has worked as the Dodgers minor league spring training instructor. Billy Wagner (who became a seven-time All-Star) was selected ten picks later.
Miami Marlins: Josh Booty
Booty was a high school baseball superstar from Louisiana who had a batting average of 0.429, 12 home runs, and 25 stolen bases during his time at Evangel Christian Academy. Booty was also a very talented football player and beat out Peyton Manning for the USA Today Offensive Player of the Year at the time.
Booty was drafted by the Marlins fifth overall in the 1994 MLB Draft, which got him away from the gridiron and straight to the baseball diamond. Unfortunately, though Booty played in 500 games, the MLB draft bust struck out 621 times during his time in the minors.
Booty was called up to the majors in 1996 and was on the Marlins’ 1997 World Series-winning team but was out of baseball after 1998. Booty had a batting average of 0.269, had seven hits, four RBIs, and no home runs during his time in the Majors.
Booty went to LSU to play college football and was drafted into the NFL in the sixth round but never saw any on-field action. Nomar Garciaparra (who became a six-time All-Star) went seven picks after Booty.
Milwaukee Brewers: Evan Frederickson
Frederickson was a 6’6” left-handed pitcher from the University of San Francisco with a strong fastball. The Brewers snagged Frederickson with the 35th pick in the second round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Unfortunately, Frederickson walked 139 batters in 132 innings during his collegiate years. Frederickson never made it to the majors, as he spent three seasons in the minors at single level A and had a 6-15 record with an ERA of 5.47. Frederickson was out of baseball after 2010. The Brewers missed out on pitchers Lance Lynn (39th overall) and Wade Miley (43rd overall) who both became All-Stars.
Minnesota Twins: Adam Johnson
Although the Twins drafted Johnson in 1997, he opted for college instead, where he was an elite pitching prospect for California State Fullerton. While there, he had 365 strikeouts and was named the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2000.
The Twins drafted Johnson again with the second pick of the 2000 MLB Draft hoping he would bring his success from college to the big leagues. Unfortunately, Johnson never brought his A-game to the majors and ended up having a 1-3 record and a 10.25 ERA.
Johnson bounced around the Oakland Athletics farm system and the Mexican League until he retired in 2008. The Twins missed out on Chase Utley, who went 13 picks later, and Adam Wainwright, who went 28 picks later. Both Utley and Wainwright became World Series champions and MLB All-Stars.
New York Mets: Steve Chilcott
Chilcott was drafted by the Mets, with the first overall, in the 1966 MLB Draft, hoping he would turn their woes of sadness into cheers of success. Unfortunately, during his second season in the minors, Chilcott injured his shoulder, which drastically impacted his game. Injuries continued to impact Chilcott’s performance, as the Mets released him after 1971.
Chilcott signed with the Yankees but played in only 24 games and was out of baseball after 1972 at the age of 24. Chilcott ended his career with 147 runs, 34 home runs, 168 RBIs, and 242 hits during his seven-year baseball career.
Chilcott became a firefighter in Santa Barbara after his time in baseball and also became a contractor. Ironically, Hall of Famer and World Series champion Reggie Jackson was selected one pick after Chilcott. Talk about a massive burn for the Mets after selecting an MLB draft bust.
New York Yankees: Brien Taylor
Regarded as one of the best pitching prospects in the early 1990s, the Yankees drafted Taylor first overall in the 1991 MLB Draft. Unfortunately, Taylor’s fastball slowed down at the professional level, as injuries derailed Taylor’s career.
A shoulder injury sustained during a fistfight where he defended his brother cut Taylor’s career short. Taylor never reached the majors and was released by the Yankees after the 1998 season. He had brief stints with the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians’ farm systems.
Taylor had an ERA of 5.23, a 22-30 record, and allowed 307 runs and 25 home runs during his professional career. After baseball, Taylor was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine in 2012 and spent three years in prison until he was released in 2015. The Yankees missed out on Dmitri Young, who went three picks later and became a two-time All-Star.
Oakland Athletics: Todd Van Poppel
During his final year at high school in Texas, Van Poppel had an ERA of 0.97 and 170 strikeouts. Impressed with his incredible talents, the Oakland A’s drafted Van Poppel 14th overall in the 1990 MLB Draft.
However, Van Poppel’s agent at the time got the A’s to give him a major league deal rather than a minor league deal, which forced his acceleration in the A’s farm system. Once Van Poppel made it to the A’s roster, he struggled, as he gave up five runs and seven hits in 1991. Van Poppel’s struggles continued, as the A’s traded him to the Detroit Tigers in 1996.
Van Poppel bounced around the majors with stops with the Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and Cincinnati Reds, respectively. Van Poppel’s career ended with a 5.58 ERA, a 40-52 record, and allowed 587 runs and 461 home runs. The A’s missed out on Mike Mussina, who went six picks later and became a five-time All-Star and Hall of Famer.
Philadelphia Phillies: Jeff Jackson
Looking to bounce back from a disastrous 1988 season, the Phillies selected Jackson with the fourth pick of the 1989 MLB Draft, out of Simeon High School, hoping he would develop into a superstar in the outfield. Unfortunately, Jackson never panned out as he struggled in the minors and never reached the majors. Jackson finished his professional baseball career with a batting average of 0.234 in 666 minor league games and was out of baseball by 1998. The Phillies missed out on future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, who went three picks after Jackson. It’s safe to say that Jackson is a draft bust in MLB.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Bryan Bullington
Bullington had a very strong arm during his collegiate career at Ball State University. He had a 9-4 record and 3.23 ERA after getting significant starting time when his teammate, Justin Wechsler, went down with an injury.
Bullington truly shined in his junior year, as he had a 10-2 record and an ERA of 2.11 during the regular season. Amazed by his talents, the Pirates immediately drafted Bullington, first overall, in the 2002 MLB Draft, hoping he would become the ace at pitching for them at the time.
However, the Pirates didn’t spend much time with Bullington when he was called up to the majors. He struggled with his pitching in six games for the team. He played in one game for the Pirates in 2005 and six in 2007 and had an ERA of 5.89 and an 0-3 record during his time in Pittsburgh. Bullington found slightly more success in Japan with the Hiroshima Toyo Carps and the Orix Buffaloes from 2011 until 2015.
Bullington retired after the 2015 season after suffering a shoulder injury. The Pirates missed out on Zach Greinke, Prince Fielder, Nick Swisher, and Cole Hamels who became All-Stars from that draft class.
San Diego Padres: Donovan Tate
After finishing the 2008 season with a 63-99 record and in fifth place in the NL West, the Padres drafted Tate, hoping he would get them out of their losing funk. Instead, Tate never made it above Class-A-Advanced and dealt with injuries during his first two seasons in the minors. Tate had surgery to repair a broken hernia and dealt with a broken jaw and a shoulder sprain.
Tate also dealt with substance abuse and was released by the Padres organization after the 2015 season. After one season in the Dodgers’ organization, Tate played college football at the University of Arizona before he left the team to be closer to his family in Georgia. The Padres missed out on a guy named Mike Trout, who was drafted 22 picks after Tate. That pick had to hurt!
San Francisco Giants: Steve Soderstrom
Normally, the Giants are a very solid drafting team in the Majors. However, not every pick they’ve garnered turns into a home run and some of them ended up as draft busts in MLB. Sometimes, there are the inevitable strikeouts, like they had with Steve Soderstrom. Soderstrom was drafted sixth overall by the Giants in the 1993 MLB Draft out of Fresno State.
After spending three seasons in the minors, Soderstrom was called up to the Giants roster in 1996 and struggled. Soderstrom played in 10 games, allowed 16 hits in 13 ½ innings, and had an ERA of 5.27. The Giants missed out on Billy Wagner and Chris Carpenter, who both became All-Stars. Soderstrom found his calling as he founded the Backyard Sports Academy in his hometown of Turlock, CA, helping athletes gain experience in baseball, basketball, volleyball, and much more. We tip our hats to you, Mr. Soderstrom, for giving back to the younger athletes.
Seattle Mariners: Al Chambers
In 1979, the Mariners hoped that Chambers would bring incredible hitting to the team against opposing pitchers. Instead, Chambers played in 57 games for the Mariners, as he had a 0.208 batting average, hit two home runs, and 11 RBIs.
Chambers was out of baseball after the 1985 season. The Mariners missed out on Andy Van Slyke, who was drafted five picks after Chambers and became a three-time All-Star in the majors. Ouch!
St. Louis Cardinals: Paul Coleman
Coleman was drafted by the Cardinals sixth overall in the 1989 MLB Draft, hoping he would turn into a power hitter. Instead, Coleman lacked plate discipline, which made his transition from high school to the professional level very tough.
The highest Coleman reached was AA as he ended his Minor League career with 19 home runs, 261 hits, and 110 RBIs. Future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas went one pick after Coleman to the Chicago White Sox. Talk about picking the wrong guy at the wrong time!
Tampa Bay Rays: Josh Hamilton
Hamilton was drafted by the Rays in 1999, with hopes he would help the young franchise compete with their tough AL East opponents. Even though he played fair in the Rays’ farm system, Hamilton was never called up to the majors by the Rays, due to injuries and drug problems.
The Rays parted ways with Hamilton after the 2005 season, and he made his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2007. However, in 2008, Hamilton revived his career with the Texas Rangers, where he became a five-time All-Star, AL-MVP in 2010, and helped the Rangers reach back-to-back World Series appearances, which they lost to the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals. Hamilton’s success story is a ”what if” he was healthy and sober, during the Rays’ playoff runs back in the early 2000s. That’s why he’s on the list of MLB draft busts.
Texas Rangers: David Clyde
Clyde was regarded as the next Sandy Koufax when the Rangers drafted him with the first pick of the 1973 MLB Draft right out of high school. Unfortunately, Clyde dealt with shoulder issues that required surgery in 1976.
Clyde was traded to Cleveland in 1978, but did next to nothing over there and was out of baseball by 1979. Clyde’s stats with both the Rangers and Cleveland included an 18-33 record, an ERA of 4.63, and 457 hits allowed. Robin Yount and Dave Winfield were selected two picks after Clyde and both became Hall of Famers. So much for the next Sandy Koufax.
Toronto Blue Jays: Travis Snider
Snider was a very hyped prospect drafted by the Blue Jays, with the 14th pick of the 2006 MLB Draft. Although Snider had his tough seasons of struggles North of the Border, he did have 14 home runs in 2010, the most of his career.
He never came close to that during his time in Toronto as the Blue Jays traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012. Snider had 85 hits and 13 home runs with the Pirates in 2014 and had a decent career in the minor leagues before he hung up his cleats after the 2022 season. Jeremy Jeffries went two picks later and became an All-Star. The Blue Jays should’ve put the time into Snider’s development instead of him becoming an MLB draft bust for the team.
Washington Nationals: Josh Smoker
Smoker was rated as the 11th-best draft-eligible pitching prospect by Baseball America back in 2007. That intrigued the Nationals, who drafted Smoker with the 31st pick of the 2007 MLB Draft. Unfortunately, injuries derailed Smoker’s time to develop for the Nationals, as he had surgery on a bone spur back in 2008.
Smoker then underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in 2013 and the Nationals released Smoker, as he never made it past Class-A-Advanced. Smoker had stints with the Rockford Aviators of the Frontier League and made his MLB Debut with the New York Mets in 2016.
Smoker ended up playing in the majors for three seasons with the Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Detroit Tigers, had a 4-2 record, and had an ERA of 5.35. The Nationals missed out on a guy named Todd Frazier, who went three picks after Smoker and became a two-time All-Star.
