Tampa Bay Rays: 4 Prospects Who Never Lived Up to the Hype

The Tampa Bay Rays have had their fair share of touted prospects in their nearly 15-year history.

Stars such as Scott Kazmir, Evan Longoria and David Price are Rays who lived up to their high expectations. The organization, however, has seen a handful of busts and underachieving prospects as well.

Without further delay, here are the four Rays prospects who never lived up to the hype.

Dewon Brazelton

Drafted third overall in the 2001 MLB draft right behind Joe Mauer and Mark Prior, Dewon Brazelton was expected to be the Devil Rays' ace for years to come.

He never would find success at the big league level, though, struggling mightily throughout his brief five-year MLB career.

Brazelton posted a lifetime 8-25 record and a 6.38 ERA, pitching most of his innings with Tampa Bay.

B.J. Upton

B.J. Upton is obviously nothing near a bust, but he has yet to live up to the very high expectations put upon him since the age of 17.

Over eight seasons with Tampa Bay, the now 28-year-old center fielder was a productive player. He put up a .255/.336/.422 slash line with 118 home runs, 232 stolen bases and a 107 wRC-plus.

Upton will likely never live up to the hype of being a No. 2 overall draft pick and the No. 2 ranked prospect in all of baseball in 2004, but his tenure with the Rays wasn't all that disappointing. 

Delmon Young

Delmon Young's case is similar to B.J. Upton's: He was a Devil Rays top prospect who simply never played as well as expected, and is now a somewhat productive big league outfielder.

One year after Upton was drafted second overall, Young was taken by Tampa Bay first overall. He was ranked in the top three of Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects for four straight years (2004 to 2007), including being ranked the game's No. 1 prospect in 2006.

The kid who was once expected to be an MVP-caliber slugger has turned out to be a career 97-wRC-plus and minus-0.3 WAR player.

General manager Andrew Friedman really made the right move when he traded Young to Minnesota in a blockbuster deal before the 2008 season, which included Matt Garza and shortstop Jason Bartlett, two guys who would help bring Tampa Bay its first pennant that year. 

Rocco Baldelli

Rocco Baldelli was another top prospect who was a key part of the Devil Rays' once bright outfield future.

Baldelli, a former sixth overall draft pick and No. 2 ranked prospect, didn't disappoint at all to begin his career. He had a successful first two seasons, finishing third for Rookie of the Year in 2003 and quickly becoming a fan favorite in Tampa Bay.

It would only go downhill from there for Baldelli, however, as a rare muscle disease caused him numerous injuries and derailed his promising career.

Rocco, now retired, owns a career 98 wRC-plus.