Baseball might seem like a slow game from the stands, but inside the minds of players, it’s a mental rollercoaster. For every clutch performer who thrives in the spotlight, there’s someone else who crumbles under the weight of expectations.
Whether it was the roar of the crowd, the size of their contract, or the relentless media attention, these players just couldn’t handle the heat. Here are MLB stars who let the pressure get to them—some briefly, some permanently.
18. Mike Zunino
A highly touted catcher with pop, Zunino never quite figured it out at the plate. His offensive struggles always seemed to spiral whenever the expectations rose.
17. Jonathan Papelbon
Papelbon could dominate, but his temper often betrayed him in high-stakes moments. The pressure didn’t just get to him—it erupted out of him.
16. Mark Appel
A former No. 1 pick, Appel struggled to find his footing from day one. The expectations were massive, and the results just never came together.
15. Matt Garza
Garza had electric stuff but often got in his own way when things started to unravel. The mound turned into a pressure cooker anytime he didn’t get a call he wanted.
14. Ian Desmond
Desmond was a five-tool guy who seemed to second-guess himself too much in key moments. His career never quite lived up to the hype, especially after a big free agency payday.
13. Rick Ankiel
The yips hit Ankiel hard, and they hit fast. A pitcher turned outfielder, his story became a symbol of how mental pressure can completely shift a career.
12. Chris Davis
Davis went from slugger to strikeout machine almost overnight. The more he pressed to get out of slumps, the deeper they seemed to go.
11. Jason Heyward
He had the tools, the hype, and the contract, but the bat never matched the buzz. Every slump seemed to snowball into something bigger, and the pressure only mounted.
10. A.J. Burnett
Burnett had ace-level stuff but was wildly inconsistent. When things didn’t go his way early, the pressure often unraveled him.
9. Dan Uggla
Uggla could hit bombs, but when he lost his swing, he lost all confidence. The weight of expectations crushed him during long slumps.
8. Barry Zito
Once a Cy Young winner, Zito never quite lived up to his massive Giants contract. The pressure to justify the paycheck seemed to hang over every pitch.
7. Grady Sizemore
Injuries played a big role, but so did the mental strain of trying to return to form. The expectations never matched the reality after his early rise.
6. Kei Igawa
The Yankees hoped for the next big thing from Japan, but Igawa never found his rhythm. New York pressure is brutal, and he got swallowed by it.
5. Carl Pavano
Another Yankees cautionary tale, Pavano’s time in pinstripes was plagued by injuries and fan frustration. He became a punchline more than a pitcher.
4. Stephen Drew
Drew had talent, but he seemed hesitant at the plate in big moments. When his bat went cold, his body language screamed doubt.
3. Kyle Farnsworth
Farnsworth threw gas, but his emotions often boiled over. The pressure pushed him into meltdown mode more than once.
Read more: 20 MLB Stars Who Got Exposed When They Switched Teams
2. Ed Whitson
Whitson’s time with the Yankees was a disaster, and the Bronx spotlight didn’t help. He even needed to be pulled from road starts due to fan tension.
Read more: Ranking The Top 10 Biggest Draft Busts in MLB History
1. Chuck Knoblauch
Knoblauch’s mental struggles at second base became one of baseball’s most infamous cases of the yips. The pressure didn’t just affect his play—it transformed his career.
Read more: 15 MLB Players Who Fell Short Under Pressure
