3 MLB #1 Draft Picks Didn't Play in MLB...What Happened?

[@BenjaminHyink]

There would have been four before 2022 but then Mark Appel made his MLB debut. That’s an incredible story

[@beardedbaldbaritone]

I was so happy for him. You could tell he was over the moon about making it. They even gave him a baseball card that year, which I have.

[@AEMoreira81]

I was thinking Matt Bush, who actually ended up serving 4 years in prison for a DWI that injured a motorcyclist. But he made his debut in 2016, eventually pitching parts of 6 seasons.

[@tommyfu9271]

@@AEMoreira81 what's weird is he was drafted #1 overall as a shortstop then couldn't hit at all.

[@EmmanuelPerez88]

It is crazy that all 3 teams won World Series within 5 years

[@jefflafond4618]

Right, it’s not ideally what you would think would happen as a result of this.

[@chadog900]

Mark Appel relieved this video wasn't made 2 years ago

[@tannerrgaming]

i played call of duty warzone with Brady Aiken in ~2020-2021 or so. he actually used to stream it and have a decent audience. cool guy, never really mentioned baseball with him, but i knew who he was. havent heard anything from him since

[@firebird6522]

The problem with the Aiken situation was that teams couldn't give draft prospects physicals before the draft, which is just an insanely stupid situation. The NFL allows teams to physically examine players. So the Astros (and every other team) had/have no idea of a draftee's health when picked. No one would have picked Aiken number 1 with his elbow issues... had they known of them. Way too much of a risk to go that high. And people ridiculed the Astros for the situation, but history has totally proven them right.

[@AEMoreira81]

I wonder why MLB doesn’t develop a combine of sorts or move the draft back to mid-July (after the All-Star Game) so that teams can examine players. I agree…if teams had known about the problems with Brady Aiken, he would have come off all draft boards.

[@darthbauer5153]

@@AEMoreira81MLB probably doesn’t do a combine because you can’t learn a lot about a baseball player in that short amount of time. Also a lot of the guys have already been drafted multiple times through previous drafts or will decline signing and renter again later so a lot of it would be a waste of time and money. I do think teams should have always been allowed to do their due diligence by being allowed to ask a guy to be examined by one of their doctors before they draft them though.

[@conedx]

the second taylor said "i'm too tired to try to get better" he should have been sent packing. tells you everything you need to know about him as a player. he was never going to make it.

[@landonslyter2710]

40.50 ERA is wild

[@Black_Phillip_215]

Turned down $5 million to play the sport he loves on the biggest stage. That’s a different type of hubris.

[@GTP2-zg9tn]

The Brian Taylor story was about defending a woman beating older brother by mistake. Brian's older brother liked beating up his girlfriend. Then one day the girlfriend's brother stepped into his home to catch Taylor's brother beating on his sister. He gave him a sound thrashing and sent him home crying. An older brother should always be ready to defend and protect a younger brother, especially one with a bright professional career ahead of him. Not this Moron, he LIED to Brian telling him he got beat up for no good reason and Brian should get revenge for him. Now here is where the story gets tragic. The girlfriend's brother was actually Brian's good childhood friend. So when Brian appeared at his doorstep, he let him in with his older brother. Who again LIED about getting a beating for no good reason. He told Brian the truth about seeing his sister getting beaten by Brian's older brother. Brian did not believe him and took a mighty punch at him. He ducked, and the force of the missed punch dislocated his left shoulder. In tremendous pain, finally Brian believed the truth and his brother fessed up about beating his girlfriend. Too little and too late. The damage was done and so was Brian's baseball career. The Yankee P.R. department for years made up the phony story about Brian being in a bar fight. Years later, after Brian was arrested for Drug Dealing, the real truth was finally revealed.

[@samiam59]

Can I just say I love the background music in your videos... Mario Super Sluggers and old school Backyard baseball here. I've heard various Mario Kart tracks in others. I'm sure many more I miss or don't recognize. A dose of nostalgia in addition to the great content. Keep it up!

[@ronpeacock9939]

Very different reasons... Chilcott was an on-field injury that today might have a different result.. but was tearing it up... Taylor.. also tearing it up.. but then failed to listen to Crash Davis (and the movie was out by then).. and protect that golden arm.. very stupid move.. Aiken.. very different reason and can't blame the player or the team on this one. Team found the medicals that scared them.. and it wasn't an injury but what ended up being a weakness that was an injury.. Not sure if he had signed w/ houston before he needed TJ, if it would have turned out different (other than more $$$$).

[@TheCountofToulouse]

I went to school with Brian Taylor, same grade and classes, I knew him well while we were in school. It was quite a thing when all that happened.

[@blacjackdaniels200]

I had a picture of Him from the daily news cut out in My locker when I played HS ball cause I was a pitcher and a huge Yankee fan so I was excited to have Him. I couldn’t wait for Him to pitch. Sucks that it never materialized all over a STUPID FUCKING FIGHT! I use to try to do my windup like his. I was righty and threw like 77 not 97 so I was a little off Lol.

[@Carusoishigh]

​@@blacjackdaniels200 that's still faster than most of the world

[@blacjackdaniels200]

@@Carusoishigh lol maybe the world that doesn’t play baseball. Gosh they’re a freshman now that throw the ball in the mid to upper 80s, sometimes 90. It’s insane how much it’s evolved. Brian Taylor through the ball in the high 90s in high school and like the early 90s. That is absolutely bizarre. The entire baseball world got completely cheated not getting to see him pitch on a professional level.

[@alexjones6190]

​@@blacjackdaniels20030 years ago that was pretty hard. Somehow the dynamics of the juiced ball make it go faster.

[@jimc.goodfellas]

Those of us that are a little older remember a lot of top draft picks that ended up being major busts/disappointments....But Brien Taylor may be the biggest bust ever

[@owenanderson3425]

As much as I hate the astros it’s pretty incredible that they fucked up the number one pick twice in a row and still became great just a few years later

[@Iamhungey]

If Dave Chappelle had made a skit about Brien Taylor, you'd get another installment of "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong!" The guy could have been part of the pitching rotation of a dynasty in the late 1990s, only to become an another reminder of how when keeping it real goes wrong.

[@hushpuckena126]

Though familiar with Chilcott's status as a number one who never made the bigs, I learnt a lot about him from this. Glad to see he made a life for himself outside the game. Many who enjoy greater advantages than Chilcott don't manage that, and not only in pro sports.

[@gamebred88]

Taylor sounded like a headache and a half to deal eith

[@toastedt140]

I'm from an adjacent community and it's widely agreed he was a good guy with terrible family influences.

[@walkingmiracles9706]

i remember the crowds taylor drew at lockhart stadium it was insane!

[@arrsequoia4087]

Stark, you have done nothing but get better and better in your efforts of writing, editing, and narrating. Truly great work.

[@jpmnky]

The fastest I’ve seen a draft pick go to the majors was Chris Sale in 2010.

[@Live01Legends]

check out Bob Horner

[@JamesAvila-xu7ds]

I think it’s Xavier nady but yeah

[@carlmohr9941]

I was trading every rookie card for Taylor. Griffey, Cansenco, McGwire..... Everyone! FM Fn L.

[@mustnotsleepmustwarnothers6463]

1.55 million is currently a lot of money for most adults on the planet.

[@charlesnye1736]

Imagine if the Mets had drafted Reggie and kept Ryan?

[@F40PH-2CAT]

Scott Boras seems to be the kiss of death these days.

[@RyanJackson-vp5he]

2014 was the year you had the three top pitchers that everyone was saying were can't miss - Aiken, Tyler Kolek and Carlos Rodon. Aiken and Kolek never made the bigs due to injuries while Rodon struggled until 2021.

[@urbangorilla33]

Rodon has struggled in 2023 and 2024 too.

[@BaronLector]

As a Yankee fan who survived the years of the late 80s/early 90s, drafting Brien Taylor in 1991 was supposed to be the relief we needed...

[@dfoleyusa]

I’m really curious to hear from Aiken as well. I wish him nothing but the best and really hope he’s doing ok. Sports is one of those things where, in a few cases, what separates a great player from one that falls completely away is health. Some guys are lucky with it and become legends and many hit health snags and become perpetual ‘what-if’s’. Sports is the one profession where health is paramount. If I tear my rotator cuff in my day job I’d be able to keep on working no problem - in baseball you’re likely done.

[@miked8227]

What about Matt White? Signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for a approx 10 million signing bonus.

[@davidrocholl4071]

This took some digging, anyway. First part of the story was that he was not drafted #1 overall, hence why he is not here in this video. He was drafted 7th overall in 1996 by the San Francisco Giants, but since they didn't make a initial offer to him inside a 15 day window, his agent Scott Boras used a obscure ruling from 1990 to get him ruled immediately a free agent, thus Tamba Bay swooping in and offering the 18 yr. old a 10.2MM$ offer that he accepted thus beginning his journey in professional baseball. All in all he toiled in the minors til 2003, never showing much, he asked for his release at the end of that year to help his grandmother financially into a nursing home, by buying her property from her. Needless to say that piece of property turned into a goldmine for him that he still owns today and profits close to a million a year from. So he is doing well for himself.

[@miked8227]

@@davidrocholl4071 wow thanks for that update, I believe he had a series of injuries along the way. Thank you

[@CiabanItReal]

Things worked out for the Astros since they got Bregman.

[@TheMick126]

The Mets gave up on Nolan Ryan 2

[@yell0wberry]

They didn’t give up on Matt Harvey, we see where that went

[@Tommy_Montana]

The Mets not drafting Reggie Jackson for non baseball reasons then getting their ass beat by his team in the World Series is poetic justice

[@rancidcrawfish]

They had a good enough reason

[@gamebred88]

Feel bad for Aiken. Kid had the goods too.

[@hughjass69702]

You do realize bregman cheated to even come close to mike trout?

[@MisterLouGab]

Think I still have somewhere Brien Taylor’s baseball card

[@HalftimeWithBayernRyan]

I thought Matt Bush would be here, but he somehow got MLB play AFTER his dumbass went to prison.

[@JamesAvila-xu7ds]

He became a pitcher with Texas he still threw hard

[@jpmnky]

Houston did just fine after the Brady Aiken pick. With him not signing in 2014. They took Alex Bregman the next year with their compensatory pick.

[@walter3001]

About a potential future #4?

[@LancasterResponding]

13:21 That is not a high schooler that is a man in his mid to late thirties

[@notsosilentmajority1]

Yes, the Brady Aiken situation seems like the worst of the three but maybe that's because Aiken's full story is still being written. The other two guys have lived out their lives (or most of it) and there's a sense of closure, whether it's good or bad. One thing for sure is that his story should be a cautionary tale against greed. Even after the Astros found something wrong with his arm, they still offered him $5 million dollars. Whether the Players Association got involved or not, they still offered him $5 million dollars. That's still a lot of money for a kid just out of school that's never thrown a pitch in the major leagues.

[@gamebred88]

The catcher prolly had a cannon for an arm before getting hurt.

[@BigBobbyBoLo]

Looking at Brady's IG seem to indicate that he's living his best life... looks happy to me

[@Estolcles]

For fairness, the 2 pitchers that told Houston to shove it at least won't have asterisks by their names by the fans with Houston's World Series wins. I mean, now they don't have to have World Series rings that should've had a Trash Can designed into the side of them.

[@conedx]

good god i can't imagine saying "no thanks" to 5 million dollars. you take that money regardless of if you think you are the greatest pitcher who ever lived because you have no idea what's going to happen.

[@patjoslin4087]

Brien Taylor was all the hype, I remember people trying to get his cards during the junk wax times

[@Lgz009]

Mark Appel should get a dishonorable mention

[@briantoglia5764]

This music choice at the beginning of the video almost sounds like Castlevania

[@tonyrogers8132]

7:10 Did you call Brien Taylor , Ryan Taylor.

[@Secretservice709]

Paul Skenes is Dwight Gooden 2.0 if he played in New York he would be a god

[@TiagoGomez-hb9te]

Why do you say that?

[@Secretservice709]

Say what?

[@Secretservice709]

@@TiagoGomez-hb9te He isn’t getting the appreciation he deserves in Pittsburgh if he was doing this with the Yankees everyone would be talking about him but a lot of baseball fans still don’t know who he is

[@TiagoGomez-hb9te]

@@Secretservice709 I've been known who Paul Skenes is...

[@gregwilliams3120]

@@Secretservice709 He's getting tons of appreciation in Pittsburgh and every baseball fan, who hasn't been living in a cave for the last two months, knows who he is.

[@SteveDave211]

Yankees never had another big pitching prospect drafted or signed like Ryan Taylor. Yes we had some pitching prospects that became big prospects yet not with this talent.

[@bryantsteury8910]

Honestly sounds like Brien did a lot of it to himself and might not have made the show, at least with the yankees, anyways. If hes already saying hes "too tired" to take developmental practice at 19 years old

[@caspermilquetoast5924]

I’m shocked Brian Taylor didnt have a great work ethic. That’s really odd

[@thewho2482]

The Brain T story really annoys me. The Yankees wanted him to go to winter ball and he did not want to go. Ugg

[@JosephTurner-ok6br]

Should have calle out the mets guy who said that about reggie

[@JeffJefe-pe1ge]

Like I don’t get baseball ,, either your a pitcher & you can evaluate pitcher talent pretty easy I guess… but other than that how do you evaluate SS , 1B,2B,3B Outfiled , Catcher what do they look for ?? Looks like every one does the same thing except pitcher , & catcher. Can someone HELP ME!!??

[@darthbauer5153]

Up the middle defense requires good range and low error proneness. Corner outfield requires a little speed but mostly a good bat and a decent arm for right field. Left side of the infield requires a good arm. First base is generally a position you play if you’re not good at any of the others defensive positions but can hit. There are exceptions of course like Bryce Harper plays first base because his elbow is bad but he was actually a pretty good outfielder.

[@darthbauer5153]

Oh also being left handed, you can only play outfield or first base if you’re a lefty so that may be another reason you see a lefty at one of those positions even with plus defense.

[@ConstipatedTree]

Don’t forget he also stole an entire World Series in 2017. How much was the signing bonus for that trash can ?

[@Sammy_Boy_Smith]

Dodgers sign in right now. Lol

[@yukiloho]

So we have Aiken to thank for the Astros getting Bregman… I’m sure Aiken is a decent enough dude, and I’ve never met him, but I hate him now knowing this information 😂

[@sportkid1547]

You forgot Kyler Murray

[@johnkrolczyk2241]

I feel bad for Chillcott, but not Taylor.

[@WinningStek]

This entire video is just Stark whinging about racism. I bet this guy doesn't even think anti-white racism is a thing that exists.

[@aidanlastname0187]

Entire video? That was like 20 seconds lol

[@Otisbxk]

We all know Astros World Series win doesn’t count

[@ernestpolk9555]

RJ is STILL one of my faves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@magichwoo]

Holliday got sent back to the minors.

[@shoukatsukai]

Mess up two first overall picks in a row yet still create sustainable success? Jeff Luhnow masterclass.

[@shoukatsukai]

@@LNO253 Why are you bringing up cheating?

[@firebird6522]

@@shoukatsukai Because he's a loser.

[@SSJGhosty]

Paul Skenes lost Livvy to Baby Gronk.

[@MegaLlama11]

Boooo clickbait thumbnail

[@Lol-pb9bx]

My best guesses are a Mets catcher (forgot the name, .25 of a point ig), Brien Taylor, and Brady Aiken

[@ChairmanMeow1]

Was Mark Appel not a #1 pick? Thats the only guess I had, not sure why he was in my head? I thought he never got through to MLB.

[@StarkRavingSports]

Mark made it in 2022!

[@ChairmanMeow1]

@@StarkRavingSports I learned something today!

[@firebird6522]

@@ChairmanMeow1 He made it... and pitched maybe a total of 10 innings. Nowhere near a HOFer, but he did make the big leagues. Good thing for him too, because like the others he was injury-prone, he also just flat out wasn't good enough to make the majors even when he was healthy. So had the Phillies not given him a feel-good promotion in 2022, he would have been one of the biggest busts ever. It's a nice story. He wasn't a bad guy and sure didn't intend for things to go the way they did.

[@GeeEm1313]

I'm glad it was the Spankees who signed that primadonna Taylor.

[@shiftygypsy89migh41]

really this can be summed up ina 2 minute video "why didnt they? They got Injuried and didnt rebound"

[@GeeEm1313]

The Mets shouldn't have won in 1969. What a joke.

[@charlesnye1736]

Your statement is the joke.

[@ripharambe4796]

jackson holliday basically never made it lmao

[@seamusthenerdman]

he played 10 games this year wdym

[@ryancarroll1697]

He's 19 years old. He hasn't made it yet

[@JS-st9gs]

​@@ryancarroll1697 You don't seem to understand. He was called up to the majors. He played. Therefore he made it.

[@PNL_King]

So much racial divide involved in the history of baseball.

[@welcometowallys8158]

First We will return to Tradition, no more “only X amount of views in X amount of seconds, wow washed”

[@WillVroo]

the top comment only has a single like? wow washed

[@dudydude3287]

No we will not

[@BSABD315]

jackson holiday sucks

[@secard4202]

2 had dominant home grown cores, one used cameras and tvs behind the dugout and remain in baseball because $$$$$

[@justingerald]

The racism Reggie experienced is something all Black players dealt with even if you may not have been told.

[@SpittUp]

212th

[@almostadorno]

i think brady aiken makes paranormal videos on @projectfear these days