In the context of sports, a “flop” refers to a highly-touted or hyped athlete who ultimately fails to live up to expectations, whether due to injury, lack of performance, or other factors. This can be especially disappointing when the athlete was a high draft pick or had a lot of potential. A flop can also refer to a team or franchise that fails to meet expectations or underperforms despite having high hopes or a talented roster.
With the MLB season right around the corner we bring you the top 10 MLB Draft Picks that were Flops.
Brien Taylor (1991): Taylor was the first overall pick in the 1991 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. Despite having a lot of hype surrounding him as a left-handed pitcher, he never played a single game in the majors due to injuries and off-field issues.
Matt Bush (2004): The San Diego Padres took Bush as the first overall pick in the 2004 MLB Draft. Despite having a lot of talent as a shortstop, Bush struggled with off-field issues and substance abuse problems, and didn’t make it to the majors until 2016 as a pitcher.
Mark Appel (2013): Appel was drafted first overall by the Houston Astros in 2013, but never made it to the majors. He struggled in the minors and eventually retired from baseball in 2021 after trying to make a comeback.
Tim Beckham (2008): Beckham was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, but he never lived up to expectations as a shortstop. He struggled with injuries and inconsistent play, and was eventually traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2017.
Danny Goodwin (1971): Goodwin was the first player ever to be drafted twice first overall. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1971, but struggled in the minors and was eventually traded to the California Angels. He had a short stint in the majors, but never lived up to his potential.
Brian Anderson (1993): Anderson was drafted second overall by the California Angels in 1993, but he struggled with injuries and never played more than 81 games in a season. He eventually retired from baseball in 2005.
Matt Anderson (1997): Anderson was drafted first overall by the Detroit Tigers in 1997 as a hard-throwing pitcher. He had some success early in his career, but struggled with injuries and inconsistency, and was out of baseball by 2005.
Jeff Jackson (1989): Jackson was drafted fourth overall by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1989, but he never made it to the majors. He struggled in the minors and was eventually traded to the Montreal Expos, but never played in a major league game.
Paul Wilson (1994): Wilson was drafted first overall by the New York Mets in 1994, but he struggled with injuries and inconsistency throughout his career. He had some success early on, but never lived up to his potential as a starting pitcher.
Delmon Young (2003): Young was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2003, but he struggled with maturity issues and inconsistent play. He eventually had some success with the Detroit Tigers, but never lived up to his billing as a top prospect.