Listening to WLW a few hours driving north for a family affair over the last two days, the hype on Cinci radio over Jay Bruce was really high. There was already joking references to Jay Bruce "Almighty" and The Natural being tossed around.
Every team seems to have those guys that were hyped to be the next big thing, some go on to have some success some others become failures or the bridge too far and classic to team fans (re: Sam Horn).
Some players big hyped like Bruce that I can remember--
Greg Brock (LA) - This guy was supposed to be a superstar and the next Rookie of the Year for the Dodgers and put up freakish numbers in AAA. He played for a few years, but never showed any power in the pros that he did in the minors.
Gregg Jeffries (Mets) - Jeffries had some success in the pros, but being a Met during their acendency, he seemed to be hyped as a future HOF player. He never hit for the power I think that was expected and his career was pretty much done at 30. Considering that the Mets pretty much gave away Kevin Brown and Kevin Mitchell, they seemingly bet on bet on the wrong horse.
Cory Snyder (Indians) - There was a ton of new talent in that time of the mid-80s and this guy I think was pushed up as the best of the bunch. He never really had that career.
Kevin Maas (Yankees) - This guy hit like 20 homers in his first month in the pros and never seemed to be able to hit after that.
― earlnash, Friday, 30 May 2008 03:46 (seventeen years ago)
I can think of a couple nhler's: Lindros, Alexander Daigle
How about Pelfrey? Probably victim more of the EASTCOASTESPNBIAS.
― bnw, Friday, 30 May 2008 04:13 (seventeen years ago)
http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/54/545753.jpg
RICO BROGNA
"The finest young player I've seen since Johnny Bench." -- Sparky Anderson
.269/.320/.445, 106 HR in nine seasons with five teams.
― Andy K, Friday, 30 May 2008 08:09 (seventeen years ago)