Big Prospects That Became Busts Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 1991, the New York Yankees picked this pitcher with the first overall pick in the amateur draft. What was his name?

Answer: Brien Taylor

Brien Taylor had early success in the Minor Leagues after being drafted number one overall, until he injured his shoulder in an off the field fistfight in 1993. He played several more seasons but was never the same, and he retired from baseball in 2000 having never reached the Major Leagues.

2. This New York Yankee prospect made his Major League debut on June 29, 1990. He briefly set the baseball world on fire and was going to be the next great Yankee first baseman before his career fizzled. What was his name?

Answer: Kevin Maas

Kevin Maas was a rookie sensation after his call up from the Minor Leagues. He set a record for needing the fewest at-bats to hit 10 home runs (77) and he finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting after hitting a total of 21 home runs. It went downhill after that. The next year his batting average was only .220, and by 1995 his career was over.

3. This Milwaukee Brewer prospect made his Major League debut on April 4, 1988, after a sensational home run filled Minor League career. His final game was September 30, 1989. What was the name of this player with such a short career?

Answer: Joey Meyer

During his Minor League career from 1984 through 1987, Joey Meyer had home run totals of 30, 37, 24, and 29 respectively. He averaged almost 104 runs batted in and had a .297 batting average. The Brewers thought they really had a special player but it just never happened.

4. This player was the first player ever drafted first overall in the amateur draft twice. Who was this catcher?

Answer: Danny Goodwin

Danny Goodwin was drafted with the first overall pick in the 1971 amateur draft by the Chicago White Sox. Instead of signing a contract he decided to go off to college, and in 1975 he was selected in the amateur draft first overall again, this time by the California Angels.

He played parts of seven seasons with the Angels, Twins, and A's before retiring with 13 career home runs and a .236 batting average.

5. The Houston Astros thought they had a future all-star outfielder when they called up their top prospect from the Minor Leagues on July 28, 1989. What was his name?

Answer: Eric Anthony

Eric Anthony was supposed to have all the physical tools needed to be a star. Instead, he bounced around for parts of nine seasons with the Astros, Mariners, Reds, Rockies, and Dodgers. He finished his career in 1997 with 78 home runs and a .231 batting average.

6. A Houston Astros prospect showed flashes of both speed and power as a Minor League shortstop. He made his Major League debut on September 2, 1990, at the age of 21 but did not get his chance in the starting lineup until 1993. Who was this shortstop?

Answer: Andujar Cedeno

When Andujar Cedeno finally got his chance to start at shortstop for the Houston Astros in 1993. His 11 home runs and .283 batting average proved the Astros were right about his developing talent. What they did not know was that these would be the best numbers he would ever produce.

He finished his career in 1996 after spending time with the Padres, Tigers, and then back with the Astros with a .236 career batting average. Sadly, he was killed in a car accident in 2000 in the Dominican Republic.

7. This Texas Rangers pitcher was selected with the first overall pick in the 1973 amateur draft. He made his Major League debut on June 27, 1973 at the age of 18. He may be the best known cautionary tale for overusing young pitchers. What is his name?

Answer: David Clyde

David Clyde was perhaps the best high school pitching prospect in history. During his last season in high school he had 18 victories and zero losses. In 148 innings pitched, he gave up only 3 earned runs. He was promoted to the Major Leagues by the Texas Rangers very shortly after being drafted in 1973 for the purpose of selling tickets.

He began having arm injuries the next season and was finished by 1979 with a career record of 18 wins, 33 losses, and a 4.63 earned run average.

8. The New York Yankees had a slugging star outfielder in their Minor League system in the late 1980s. He made his Major League debut on August 23, 1989, at the age of 22, but never could hit in the Major Leagues. What was his name?

Answer: Hensley Meulens

At the age of 20 Hensley Meulens hit 28 home runs with 103 runs batted in and had a .300 batting average in the Minor Leagues. The Yankees were excited about having him in their outfield for years to come but he never could hit major league pitching.

The Yankees promoted and demoted the him back and forth to the Minor Leagues for several years before finally giving up on him in 1993. In total, he played parts of seven seasons in the Major Leagues with the Yankees, Expos, and Diamondbacks, and had a .220 batting average with only 15 career home runs.

9. The Cleveland Indians had a rookie outfielder that made his Major League debut on April 11, 1980. He had a fine rookie year but found himself out of baseball just two years later. Who was this flash in the pan?

Answer: Joe Charboneau

"Super" Joe Charboneau was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1980 after hitting 23 home runs with a .289 batting average. He looked like he would be a star for years to come. However, he barely hit .200 over the next two years and only hit 6 more home runs. The Clevland Indians released him after the 1982 season and he never played again.

10. The Los Angeles Dodgers once had a king sized outfield prospect. He stood 6 foot 7 and weighed 240 pounds. He made his Major League debut on September 1, 1992, but his enormous power never showed up in the Major Leagues. What was his name?

Answer: Billy Ashley

Billy Ashley had consecutive seasons of 26, 26, and 37 home runs in the Minor Leagues and one year he had a batting average of .345. He looked like he would hit home runs with the Los Angeles Dodgers for many years. He finished his career after parts of 7 seasons in 1998 with the Boston Red Sox. He had 28 careers home runs and a .233 batting average.

Source: Author joesmoke25

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Baseball's history is full of up and coming prospects and draft picks that never achieved what was expected of them. Here are a few.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>