Pitchers are already working with a ticking clock, but some careers come to a premature end. Whether it was injuries, bad luck, or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time, these guys had more gas in the tank than we got to see.
Some were budding stars, others were solid vets who didn’t get their fair share of seasons. From flash-in-the-pan phenoms to reliable arms who faded too fast, here are 17 pitchers who deserved a longer run in the big leagues.
17. Mark Fidrych
The Bird took the league by storm in 1976, then injuries clipped his wings almost immediately. One magical season just wasn’t enough.
16. Dontrelle Willis
The D-Train was one of the most electric pitchers in the game for a minute. Unfortunately, control issues and inconsistency sent him off the rails way too early.
15. Brandon Webb
A Cy Young winner with one of the nastiest sinkers in the game, Webb was dominant at his peak. Shoulder problems cut his career short before we got to see what he could become.
14. Kerry Wood
From 20 strikeouts in a single game to a decade of injury updates, Wood’s potential was through the roof. His arm couldn’t keep up with his talent.
13. José Fernández
Fernández had the kind of stuff that made hitters look silly and fans dream big. His tragic death ended what could’ve been a Hall of Fame career before it truly began.
12. Scott Kazmir
Kazmir was an early ace for Tampa Bay, but fizzled out before his prime should’ve ended. He made a late comeback, but it never fully clicked like it once had.
11. Josh Johnson
When healthy, Johnson was a strike-throwing machine with ace-level stuff. Sadly, “when healthy” became the problem.
10. Tim Lincecum
The Freak was untouchable for a few years and racked up two Cy Youngs. But once the velocity dipped, he faded from dominance faster than anyone expected.
9. Aníbal Sánchez
Sánchez had the talent, and now and then, he reminded us with brilliant outings. However, he never quite stayed in one place long enough to build a lasting legacy.
8. Joel Zumaya
This guy threw absolute gas and looked like a future star out of the bullpen. But his arm couldn’t survive the torque, and injuries derailed his career before it even really started.
7. Mike Hampton
A solid starter and elite hitting pitcher, Hampton’s career was humming before injuries took the wheel. He couldn’t stay off the IL long enough to make his full mark.
6. Jason Schmidt
When Schmidt was on, he was borderline unhittable. However, shoulder issues had other plans, sending his promising career into an early nosedive.
5. Chris Carpenter
Carpenter had a few brilliant seasons, including a Cy Young win, but was constantly battling injuries. You always felt like he had more elite years in him, if only his body would cooperate.
4. Rich Harden
Few pitchers made batters look worse than Harden when he was locked in. Unfortunately, his body broke down before his talent ever did.
3. James Paxton
When he’s healthy, Paxton is a nightmare for opposing lineups. The problem is, “healthy” has been a scarce condition in his career.
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2. Bret Saberhagen
Saberhagen won two Cy Youngs and looked like a surefire Hall of Famer early on. But injuries chipped away at his longevity, leaving us to wonder what could’ve been.
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1. Stephen Strasburg
From the most hyped debut in history to a World Series MVP, Strasburg’s career had flashes of greatness. It just never lasted long enough due to constant injury setbacks.
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