Some pitchers light up the MLB stage for a single season, only to fade into the background as quickly as they emerged. Whether it was due to injury, regression, or simply a little magic wearing off, these arms remind us that greatness isn’t always built to last.
This list is a tribute to those one-hit wonders of the mound—guys who delivered a jaw-dropping season and then quietly slipped out of the spotlight. From Cy Young contenders to midseason phenoms, these pitchers had their moment and then vanished.
15. Chris Young
In 2007, Young was an All-Star with a sparkling ERA and looked like a future frontline starter. But inconsistency and injuries turned him into a journeyman by the next few seasons.
14. Brandon Webb
Webb won the Cy Young in 2006 and was nearly untouchable for a few years. Then, shoulder injuries took a toll, and he never pitched another MLB inning after 2009.
13. Mike Fiers
Fiers tossed two no-hitters and had a fantastic 2019 season with Oakland. But his effectiveness quickly declined, and he was out of the league not long after.
12. Jeremy Hellickson
Hellickson won the AL Rookie of the Year in 2011 and looked poised to be a long-term star. His command wavered in later years, and he bounced around teams before quietly exiting.
11. Joe Roa
In 2002, Roa posted a 4-1 record and a solid ERA for the Phillies that turned heads. But that brief success didn’t translate to long-term reliability in the majors.
10. Esteban Loaiza
Loaiza shocked the league with a breakout 2003 season, leading the AL in strikeouts and finishing second in Cy Young voting. The rest of his career never came close to replicating that magic.
9. Mark Fidrych
“The Bird” captivated baseball with his quirky personality and dominant rookie year in 1976. Sadly, arm troubles cut his career short, and he never regained the level of performance he had achieved.
8. Ricky Romero
Romero was an All-Star in 2011 and looked like Toronto’s next great ace. Then came a sudden and steep decline, and he was out of the majors just two years later.
7. Mike Maroth
Maroth had one excellent year in 2005 with the Tigers, following some historically rough seasons. Unfortunately, injuries and inconsistency prevented him from building on it.
6. Shelby Miller
Miller had a stellar 2015 season with the Braves, earning an All-Star nod and a sub-3.00 ERA. But he was never able to live up to the hype after being traded for a king’s ransom.
5. Jason Schmidt
Schmidt had a monster season in 2003 with the Giants, finishing second in Cy Young voting. Injuries and a decline in velocity eventually ended his run.
4. Dontrelle Willis
The D-Train was electric in 2005, winning 22 games with flair and style. But control issues and a tricky delivery caught up to him fast.
3. Andrew Bailey
Bailey came out of nowhere to win AL Rookie of the Year as Oakland’s closer in 2009. Injuries derailed his career shortly after, and he was never the same again.
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2. Josh Johnson
Johnson dominated in 2010 with the Marlins and looked like a future perennial All-Star. Sadly, elbow issues robbed him of any sustained success after that.
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1. Ubaldo Jiménez
In 2010, Jiménez was unhittable in the first half and even threw a no-hitter. After that magical run, he never came close to recapturing the same dominance.
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