The MLB Draft is a gamble. For every Derek Jeter or Ken Griffey Jr., there’s a swing-and-miss so catastrophic it echoes through franchise history. Whether due to injury, attitude, or simply never adjusting to big-league talent, these first-round draft busts are cautionary tales for every GM.
Here are the 10 biggest MLB draft busts, top picks who never lived up to the hype and left fans wondering what could have been.
Top 10 Biggest Draft Busts in MLB History
10. Chris Gruler – RHP, Reds (1st Round, 3rd Overall, 2002)
What Went Wrong: Shoulder injuries shut Gruler down almost immediately after he was drafted. He never made it out of Single-A ball.
MLB Career: Never reached the majors.
9. Tyler Houston – C, Braves (2nd Overall, 1989)
What Went Wrong: He bounced around the majors but never became the franchise cornerstone Atlanta hoped for. He was drafted ahead of Frank Thomas. Ouch.
MLB Career: .265 AVG, 63 HR in 8 seasons.
8. Joe Borchard – OF, White Sox (12th Overall, 2000)
What Went Wrong: A dual-sport star at Stanford, Borchard never delivered on his five-tool promise. He holds the record for the largest signing bonus at the time ($5.3M), but fizzled out quickly.
MLB Career: .205 AVG, 26 HR in 301 games.
7. Josh Vitters – 3B, Cubs (3rd Overall, 2007)
What Went Wrong: Vitters had a pretty swing but couldn’t adjust to big-league pitching. Poor plate discipline and injuries sealed his fate.
MLB Career: .121 AVG in 36 games.
6. Dewon Brazelton – RHP, Rays (3rd Overall, 2001)
What Went Wrong: Inconsistent command and mental lapses plagued Brazelton. The Rays gave him every chance, but he finished with more walks than strikeouts.
MLB Career: 8–25 record, 6.38 ERA.
5. Donavan Tate – OF, Padres (3rd Overall, 2009)
What Went Wrong: Injuries and personal issues—including multiple stints in rehab—prevented Tate from reaching even Double-A consistently.
MLB Career: Never made it past High-A.
4. Steve Chilcott – C, Mets (1st Overall, 1966)
What Went Wrong: Taken ahead of Reggie Jackson, Chilcott suffered a devastating shoulder injury in the minors and never reached the big leagues.
MLB Career: 0 games played.
3. Matt Bush – SS, Padres (1st Overall, 2004)
What Went Wrong: Off-field issues, including a string of legal problems, derailed Bush’s career early. He later reinvented himself as a reliever, but his selection at No. 1 still stings for San Diego.
MLB Career: Debuted 12 years after being drafted, as a pitcher.
2. Mark Appel – RHP, Astros (1st Overall, 2013)
What Went Wrong: Dominant at Stanford, Appel struggled mightily in the minors. Injuries, inconsistency, and mechanical issues kept him from debuting until a brief MLB appearance in 2022, for the Phillies.
MLB Career: 6.1 innings, 1 ER.
1. Brien Taylor – LHP, Yankees (1st Overall, 1991)
What Went Wrong: Once dubbed a left-handed Dwight Gooden, Taylor never made it to the majors. A shoulder injury from a bar fight derailed his career before it began.
MLB Career: 0 games played.
The MLB Draft might be the biggest crapshoot in professional sports. These top draft busts prove that talent isn’t everything; development, durability, and even luck matter just as much. One wrong pick can set a team back a decade, and fans never forget who could’ve been.
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