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This is a team compiled by me of overhyped players and draft busts. This is not a full 50 man roster, but you could definitely get a starting lineup and a pitching rotation out of it. This may be one of the worst Major League quality teams ever compiled.
You’d never want any of these players on your fantasy team.
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Two Way Player: Clint Hartung
Clint was advertised as the next coming of Babe Ruth. He pitched 25-0 and hit .567 in the military. In the majors, however, he absolutely sucked. He is the go to player to compare someone to when they are a draft bust.
LHP
Brien Taylor
This guy was very good in high school. He was dubbed as the best high school pitcher ever. He was drafted #1 overall by the Yankees in 1991. He got into a fistfight, injured his shoulder, and had his overwhelming 98 mph fastball cut to an underwhelming 89-92 mph fastball, effectively ending his career.
RHP
Mark Appel
One of three 1st overall picks that never made the majors. From what I see, he may have been a good reliever if you converted him early into his minor league career, but that never happened. Mark, being drafted first overall in 2013 and 8th overall in 2012, never had any success outside of AA ball.
RHP
Matt Harrington
This guy was probably one of the worst players ever drafted in the first round of the draft, twice. He was drafted 13th in 2002 and 24th in 2003. He also was drafted 36th overall in 2004. He never played in pro ball, but played in semi pro for some years unsuccessfully. He turned down a 3.9 million dollar deal to work at Costco for 11.50 an hour. That’s what you get for hiring a horrible agent like Scott Boras.
RHP
Bryan Bullington
Here’s another 1st overall pick that was a disappointment. He was drafted 1st overall in 2002. We went 1-9 with a 5.62 ERA in one year of major league service.
RHP
Dewon Brazelton
The third overall pick in 2001. He has a career record of 8-25 and a 6.38 ERA in 5 years of MLB service.
Reliever
Matt Bush
He finally saw some play time in 2016-2020 after getting drafted first overall. In 2004. Needless to say, his career hasn’t turned out well. He currently has a 10-6 career record with a 3.45 ERA. In 2021, he had a 0-0 record with a 6.75 ERA.
Reliever
Todd Van Poppel
Todd was another overhyped high school pitcher. He was ineffective as a starter and had limited success as a Cubs reliever, amassing a whopping 4 Saves and a 5.58 ERA with a 40-58 record. Needless to say, this guy had no business being drafted at 14th overall.
Reliever
Andrew Brackman
Andrew’s stats are really good, he had a 0.00 ERA and a 1.714 WHIP. In 2.1 innings. He was a very touted prospect by virtue of being a Yankees draft pick. He was inexplicably promoted through the minor leagues despite going 2-12 in AA and 3-6 in AAA. He never resurfaced after his 2011 season.
Reliever
David Clyde
Originally, he was supposed to be the next Sandy Koufax. You can guess how that turned out. He was pitched up first overall in 1973 and immediately came to the majors. He went 16-33 with a 4.63 ERA. Part of the problem was that he was turned into a workhorse right out of high school. Maybe, as a reliever, he would fare better.
CP
Greg Reynolds
The Rockies took Greg 2nd overall in 2006, a class that featured such stars as Evan Longoria, Max Scherzer, and Clayton Kershaw. He had a career 6-11 7.01 ERA.
DH
Al Chambers
Al was drafted first overall in 1979. He played well in the minors and looked like he would serve Seattle well. Well, if two years of service and a .208 AVG is well, then he did a good job.
Pinch Hitter
Donavan Tate
He went 3rd overall in the 2009 MLB draft. I’m sure you know another CF to be taken in 2009….
He never made the majors. He was out of baseball in 2016 due to substance abuse and injuries.
C
Steve Chilcott
Chilcott was the 1st overall selection of the 1966 draft. Right after him, Reggie Jackson was selected….
He never made it past AAA in 7 minor league seasons, only hitting .250 in his disappointing career.
1B
Danny Goodwin
Getting drafted 1st overall is an achievement. Getting drafted first overall twice has only been achieved once. It was by Danny Goodwin in 1971 and in 1975. He must have been great, right? Nope. The Twins (Who drafted him first in 1975) basically got a utility infielder/DH that hit .238 with some power. Talk about a letdown.
2B
Bill Almon
Bill Almon was the 1974 1st overall pick. He had a long, and basically below average career. He had one good year, 1981, where he was 19th in MVP voting, but otherwise he was average to below average. He was a very disappointing 1st overall pick.
3B
Josh Booty
He was drafted 5th overall in 2004. He played 13 MLB games, hitting .269. That’s it. He went on to have a successful career in college football at LSU.
SS
Gavin Cecchini
The 12th pick in the 2012 draft, he was thought to be the second best infielder of the draft, after Carlos Correa. As a SS-2B, he was rated the 19th best prospect on the MLB.com’s top draft prospects lists. He played horribly in the majors for 32 games.
LF
Brooks Kieschnick
Being in the college baseball hall of fame doesn’t mean that you’re a great MLB player. Brooks was used as a Pinch Hitter and Leftfielder, and he amassed a .248 AVG and 16 HR. He also played sevicably as a bullpen piece for two years. Not a great player for the 10th overall pick.
CF
Shawn Abner
He was the 1st overall pick in the 1984 draft. Really, he was a horrible player. He hit .227 AVG with a 65 OPS+ in his career.
RF
Billy Beane
Beane was drafted in the first round of the 1980 draft. He was a hot prospect to say the least. Sadly, he got to the majors and played badly, hitting .219 with 66 hits and horrible defensive value. He went on to become a successful GM in the Athletics association.
