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Every MLB Team’s Biggest Prospect Bust Since 2010
While most top prospects often develop into superstars, sometimes they do not become top players. Instead, they either cannot make it through the minor leagues or can never take the step in the majors. In this ranking, we will identify each MLB team’s top prospect busts since 2010.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Jon Duplantier, RHP
Jon Duplantier was considered one of the top prospect pitching prospects in Arizona leading up to the 2019 campaign. He made his MLB debut later in this season and held a 4.42 ERA with a 1.55 WHIP across his first 36 2/3 innings. In 2018, he held an impressive 2.55 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP at Double-A. However, Duplantier would only log another 13 innings at the MLB level in his career as he battled numerous injuries.
Athletics: Franklin Barreto, SS
Franklin Barreto was one of the pieces acquired by Oakland in the trade that sent Josh Donaldson to Toronto. Barreto was once considered the No. 1 prospect in their system on MLB Pipeline. However, across four big-league campaigns, Barreto would hold a cumulative .175/.207/.342 slash line with just nine home runs. Across 392 career games at Triple-A, he held a solid .295/.355/.464 line.
Atlanta Braves: Cristian Pache, OF
Cristian Pache was viewed as not only one of the best offensive prospects in Atlanta but also one of the best defensive. Pache flashed elite speed in center field as he was graded as a top-tier defender who could hit for contact. However, during the 2021 season, Pache posted a .111/.152/.206 line across 22 games. Pache was then traded to Oakland in exchange for first baseman Matt Olson.
Baltimore Orioles: DL Hall, LHP
While the Baltimore system had several elite batters over the past half-decade, including Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Heston Kjerstad, Coby Mayo, and Jackson Holliday, DL Hall was viewed as the clear top pitcher. The southpaw flashed elite strikeout upside in the minor leagues as he tallied 137 in 84 1/3 innings in 2022. However, the southpaw has only logged 76 career innings in the majors due to numerous injuries. He was shipped to Milwaukee before the 2024 season in exchange for Corbin Burnes.
Boston Red Sox: Jeter Downs, SS
Jeter Downs was viewed as one of the top pieces in the package that sent Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, Downs was never able to live up to his potential. After posting an elite 333/.429/.688 line at Double-A, Downs went on to hit for a cumulative .216/.218/.398 line at the Triple-A level and a similar .182/.260/.273 in the majors. Downs was DFA’d by Boston in 2022.
Chicago Cubs: Brennen Davis, OF
After winning the World Series in 2016, the Chicago Cubs appeared to be building a dynasty. While several of their budding players developed into consistent MLB stars like Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, Brennen Davis was expected to lead the next wave of Chicago Baseball. Davis won the 2021 Futures Game MVP and was the consensus No. 1 prospect in the system for several seasons. However, Davis battled numerous injuries and could never reach the major leagues.
Chicago White Sox: Andrew Vaughn, 1B
While it is hard to call Andrew Vaughn a true “bust,” he has not lived up to his draft capital. Vaughn was drafted by the White Sox with the third overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. Vaughn was viewed as the top prospect in the system over players like Lucas Giolio, Michael Kopech, and Luis Robert Jr. throughout his minor league career. While Vaughn has become an everyday play in the Southside, he holds a modest .253/.310/.415 line, which was well below what scouts projected. He has only hit more than 20 HRs in one season.
Cincinnati Reds: Nick Senzel, 3B
Nick Senzel was considered one of the top prospects in the sport leading up to the 20129 campaign. The Reds drafted Senzel out of Tennessee with the second overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. After holding an impressive career .275/.351/.440 slash at Triple-A, Senzel was projected to be a mainstay in the Cincinnati starting nine. However, Senzel posted a career .239/.302/.369 line with the Reds across five seasons.
Cleveland Guardians Bradley Zimmer, OF
Bradley Zimmer flashed both power and speed as he progressed through the Cleveland system. Zimmer was selected with the 21st pick in the 2014 MLB Draft and was viewed as the top prospect in the system on MLB Pipeline leading up to the 2018 campaign. However, Zimmer was unable to transfer his five-category play into the majors, as he posted a career .213/.298/.333 line across six seasons.
Colorado Rockies: David Dahl, OF
David Dahl looked far from a bust after he posted a .500 SLG during his debut season in 2016. However, he suffered a ruptured spleen and was sidelined for almost two seasons. When he returned in 2019, he posted a strong .877 OPS en route to making the NL All-Star team. However, injuries continued to limit his opportunities, as he appeared in just 24 games in 2020 before being released by the club.
Detroit Tigers: Matt Manning, RHP
Matt Manning was considered the top arm in a deep Detroit pitching pipeline that featured several intriguing prospects like Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal. However, unlike the latter, Manning has never been able to take the next step in the big leagues. The former ninth-overall pick posted a promising 3.29 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP and 154 strikeouts across 117 2/3 innings during his first full minor league season. In the majors, he has tallied just 178 punchouts across 254 frames with a high 4.43 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.
Houston Astros: Forrest Whitley, RHP
Forrest Whitley sat atop Houston’s prospect rankings for several seasons after being drafted with the 17th pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. In 2017, Whitler tallied 143 punchouts over an impressive 92 1/3 innings. However, once he began to progress through the system, he would take significant steps back to the upper levels. Whitler would also undergo Tommy John surgery in 2021, which halted his progression. He reached the majors in 2024 but did not produce near to what scouts were projecting.
Kansas City Royals: Nicky Lopez, INF
Nicky Lopez was considered the No. 5 prospect in the Kansas City system during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. However, once he reached the majors, Lopez was never able to reach his full potential. In the minor leagues, Lopez held a stellar .304/.339/.444 career line at Triple-A (91 games). However, in the majors, he has held a modest .248/.312/.314 line.
Los Angeles Angels: Jo Adell, OF
While Jo Adell has flashed upside at times, he has never reached his full projected potential. After being selected with the 10th pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Adell was considered one of the top prospects in the sport. At the Triple-A level, Adell held a promising .272/.349/.556 line with 60 home runs and 21 stolen bases across 214 contests. However, in the majors, Adell has posted a cumulative .211/.268/.381 line across his first five seasons.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Diego Cartaya, C
Diego Cartaya was often considered one of the top catching prospects in the sport during his time in the minor leagues. In the 2022 season, Cartaya posted a solid .254/.389/.503 line across Single and High-A. However, once he reached the upper levels, Cartaya saw his development hit a hard stop. Across 49 career games at Triple-A, Cartaya has posted an underwhelming .208/.293/.350 line. The Dodgers shipped Cartaya to Minnesota before the 2025 season.
Miami Marlins: Jacob Berry, 1B
After being drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of LSU, Berry looked poised to be Miami’s first baseman of the future. After being drafted, MLB Pipeline ranked Berry as the No. 3 prospect in the system for two seasons. However, after struggling in the lower levels of the minor leagues, MLB Pipeline has moved him down to the No. 24 spot in the system. In addition, the Marlins have traded for corner infielder Deyvison De Los Santos, who has surpassed him on the “prospect depth chart.”
Milwaukee Brewers: Keston Hiura, 2B
From 2017 through 2020, Keston Hiura sat atop MLB Pipeline’s Milwaukee Brewers prospect rankings. Hiura flashed elite power in the minor leagues as he posted a .611 SLG in 2017 and a .464 SLG in 2018. In 2019, Hiura flashed upside during his rookie season as he posted a strong .938 OPS. However, after this season, he would hold a career .671 OPS with a hefty 38.5 percent K rate.
Minnesota Twins: Royce Lewis, 3B
While it may seem harsh to call Royce Lewis a “bust,” given his inability to stay on the field, he has not lived up to his prospect pedigree. Lewis was drafted with the first pick in the 2017 MLB Draft out of high school. In the minor leagues, he was very productive (.302/.383/.546 career line at Triple-A). However, while he has flashed elite power in the majors (.824 OPS), he has only played in 152 games over the past three seasons due to injuries. He is already expected to open the 2025 campaign on the IL.
New York Mets: Brett Baty, 3B
Brett Baty was considered the No. 2 prospect in the Mets system for several seasons, sitting behind top prospect Francisco Alvarez, who was widely considered one of the best prospects in the sport. However, while Baty has produced in the minor leagues, like several names on this list, he has never been able to carry his production into the major leagues. Across three MLB seasons, Baty has posted an underwhelming .215/.282/.325 line, which is not close to his expected production as a former 12th-overall pick.
New York Yankees: Clint Frazier, OF
Clint Frazier was a consensus top-30 prospect in the sport during his time in the Yankee system. Frazier joined the Yankee system after being acquired in the Andrew Miller trade. In the minor leagues, Frazier flashed elite upside. During his second full look at Triple-A, the outfielder posted an impressive .311/.389/.574 line. However, across four seasons in the Bronx, Frazier posted a .239/.327/.434 line with a 29.1 percent K rate.
Philadelphia Phillies: Maikel Franco, INF
Maikel Franco sat at the top of the Phillies system on MLB.com before receiving his first full look at the majors in 2016. Across 656 career games in Philadelphia, Franco held an underwhelming .249/.302/.431 line with a modest .733 OPS. In the minor leagues, Franco held a stellar .339/.363/.563 line at Double-A. The Phillies non-tendered Franco after the 2020 season.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Henry Davis, C
Henry Davis was considered one of the top prospects in the MLB after being selected with the first pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Louisville. Davis was put on a fast track to the majors as he reached Pittsburgh after logging just 31 games at Double-A. This quick progression may have ruined his development as he has posted a career .191/.83/.307 line through his first two MLB seasons. While he is fast approaching true “bust” territory, Davis will have a chance to operate as the No. 2 backstop in 2025 to save his career.
San Diego Padres: Luis Patino, RHP
The San Diego Padres have developed several top-tier MLB players over the past decade. During this stretch, Fernado Tatis Jr. and several budding stars like James Wood and CJ Abrams have progressed through this system. However, Luis Patino was viewed as their top right-hander for several seasons and never reached his full development. Across 136 1/3 career MLB innings, he has posted a 5.02 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP.
San Francisco Giants: Joey Bart, C
Joey Bart had big shoes to fill, being viewed as the next Buster Posey. Unfortunately, the former No. 2 overall pick was never able to find his footing in San Francisco. As a Giant, Bart posted a cumulative .222/.294/.351 slash line with a poor 38.0 percent strikeout rate. This was a sharp decline from the .278/.328/.495 line he held in the 2019 season before reaching the majors. However, Bart has begun to find his swing in the Steel City and is slated to be their everyday backstop in 2025.
Seattle Mariners: Kyle Lewis, OF
Kyle Lewis battled the injury bug throughout his minor league career. He suffered a torn ACL in 2016, which halted his progression. While he began to find his swing a few seasons later, he was never able to put the pieces together. Across 130 games in Seattle, Lewis posted a .244/.329/.432 line with a 29.7 percent K rate. If the former No. 11 overall pick stayed healthy, he could have had a different MLB journey.
St. Louis Cardinals: Alex Reyes, RHP
Alex Reyes was considered the top project in St. Louis from 2015 through 2020 on MLB Pipeline. However, similar to Lewis, Reyes battled numerous injuries, which halted his progression. In 2021, he flashed elite closing upside as he tallied 29 saves en route to making the NL All-Star team. Unfortunately, Reyes could not stay on the field and was eventually DFA’d in 2022.
Tampa Bay Rays: Brent Honeywell, RHP
Brent Honeywell was considered a top-25 prospect for several seasons, according to MLB Pipeline. However, Honeywell underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018, which significantly halted his development. When he returned to Triple-A Durham in 2021, Honeywell saw his strikeout upside drop significantly. He has only logged 94 1/3 innings in the majors to the tune of a poor 4.10 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.
Texas Rangers: Leody Taveras, OF
While Leody Taveras has seen time as a regular major leaguer, he has not lived up to his potential. Taveras was once considered not only the top prospect in Texas but one of the best in baseball. He was a top 50 prospect on MLB Pipeline for several seasons before making his MLB debut. However, the switch-hitter has only held a batting average above .260 during two of his five seasons.
Toronto Blue Jays: Nate Pearson, RHP
While hitters typically sat near the top of Toronto prospect rankings in the past decade (Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) Nate Pearson was usually viewed as the top pitching prospect. During the 2019 season, Pearson progressed quickly through the Toronto system, holding a strong 2.30 ERA with a stellar 0.89 WHIP across 101 2/3 innings across Double and Triple-A. However, in the majors, he has held a 4.78 ERA across 143 frames.
Washington Nationals: Carter Kieboom, 3B
The Nationals selected Carter Kieboom with the 26th pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. Kieboom was often viewed as the top prospect in the Nationals system for several seasons from 2018 through 2021. During this stint, Kieboom flashed elite upside in the minor leagues. In 2019, the infielder held a strong .303/.409/.493 line across his first 109 games at Triple-A. However, Kieboom was never able to translate this success to the majors as he posted a .199/.297/.301 line over his first four MLB seasons.
