MLB Late Bloomers
- rossmelen91
- Apr 28, 2021
- 5 min read
Prospects are the lifeblood of baseball. For as long as there have been prospects there has been baseball. However, the word "prospect" is such a generalized term that it almost loses it's appeal and intent. Being considered a top prospect would be cool, or I'd like to think it would be. However, the expectations with this honor can be career defining or career crippling. Look at the best players in baseball and it's no secret they were once labeled as 'top prospects.' Ronald Acuña Jr., Mike Trout, Corey Seager, and Bryce Harper are all guys that lived up to the hype right away as superstars.
On the contrary, the list of highly rated prospects that didn't pan out is just as big of list. It may not seem this way due to the lack of an impact these prospects had on their respective organizations. Players that come to mind are Dustin Ackley, Shelby Miller, Jurickson Profar, Jesus Montero, and Billy Hamilton. These were highly rated prospects that made it to the majors, but failed to have the career that was bestowed upon them by their rankings.
As human beings we are conditioned to expect and want immediate gratification. Baseball is no different. If a highly rated player (prospect) makes their major league debut we subconsciously expect them to be the next Acuña Jr. or Trout or Harper. The beautiful aspect of baseball is that each player's road to success is different. Some of the best players in baseball were once top prospects that were either castoff by their original organizations or had to do some soul searching to discover the talent that was always there.
Max Scherzer
Scherzer has been among the best pitchers for the past decade. However, his road to success wasn't always inevitable. He was a first round draft pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006. I think it's fair to assume they thought highly of him to draft him at that slot, but failed to realize his full potential. His pitching motion and potential for injury played a large role in why he was traded to Detroit. Giving Scherzer the opportunity to learn from Justin Verlander is such an underrated aspect for why he is the player he is now.
Tyler Mahle
Mahle is not a household name, yet. He was drafted in the 7th round of the 2013 draft. Casual fans may consider a 7th round pick as having average potential, when in reality it's pretty good considering the MLB consists of forty rounds. It's taken Mahle a few seasons to find his form, but the Reds patience and belief in him is finally paying off.
Andrew Miller
Miller was considered by many draft experts to be the next Randy Johnson. You certainly can't teach 6'7 and/or a 99+ mph fastball. Unfortunately for Miller, the expectations in Detroit were not attainable and he was eventually in the deal that sent Miguel Cabrera from the Marlins to the Tigers. The Marlins gave him every opportunity to be a starter, but it wasn't meant to be. There are many reasons that can be attributed for his failures as a starter. Personally, I believe his mechanics were the main culprit to his struggling career. The Red Sox moved him to the bullpen and had him pitch out the stretch full-time. This decision not only saved his career, but made it. Miller should be the poster child for hard throwing pitchers that may be better equipped for success as a key reliever.
Byron Buxton
Buxton was one of the most hyped Twins prospect to go through their minor league system. Coming out of high school he was compared to Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, BJ Upton, Torii Hunter, and Adam Jones. These are quite the guys to be compared to considering he had yet to play a professional game. Going through the minors, Buxton looked like a lock as a superstar. He was named the 2013 Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year. Unfortunately for him, the success at the major league level was not so easy. Not only was he laboring at the plate, but he struggled to maintain his health. His career was at an all-time low in 2018 when he played in just 28 games finishing with an OPS of .383 (.728 league average). In the subsequent seasons, he's become the star we all thought he would be. He has refined his swing to account for launch angle and it's made all the difference. Credit to the Twins for sticking with him through his struggles.
Max Muncy
Max Muncy's career is an anomaly. Muncy was a fringe Mendoza Line (.200) hitter that displayed little to no power during his time with the Oakland Athletics. His stint with the A's was so bad that he was designated for assignment and eventually released at just 26 years old. He proceeded to accept a minor league deal with the Dodgers and spent the whole 2017 year in Oklahoma City (AAA). He was called up the next season and hasn't looked back since. That limited power with the A's is mystifying considering he had hit 35 home runs in back-to-back seasons with LA. Muncy's tale is a reminder of how important the minor leagues can be to a struggling player.
Mike Yastrzemski
Yastrzemski has been fighting an uphill battle since he was born. Succeeding in baseball with the constant reminder of who his grandfather is must've been difficult. If you've been under a rock, Mike's grandfather, Carl, is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The Orioles reluctance to give Mike Yastrzemski a chance in the majors, while eventually trading him has been a blessing in disguise for the Giants and him. He's already 30 years of age, but it appears his window of success is wide open.
Justin Turner
Justin Turner has had a winding career like the aforementioned guys. He was drafted by the Reds and traded within his first few professional seasons. He was given a brief opportunity with the Orioles, but his 3 hits in 27 at-bats resulted in him being designated for assignment. In four seasons with the Mets, Turner was nothing more than an average hitter with limited offers in free agency. Back at square one, Turner overhauled his swing with the help of a prominent hitting coach, and the rest as they say is history. As the article below states, "One of the great things about baseball is that hitting is more like playing golf than running with a football. The light goes on for different people at different times, with insights available through hard work when a player is properly motivated."
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