MLB Draft: Ranking the five worst No. 1 picks in draft history
By Aaron Somers
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
3.) Bryan Bullington. 2002. Pittsburgh Pirates.
A hard-throwing right-hander, Bullington carried high expectations when the Bucs took him with that first overall selection but he was never able to harness his live arm. His performance in the lower minor leagues was average at best, but the Pirates still brought him up to make one appearance in 2005 before returning him to the minor leagues for another full season.
Bullington would return to the Majors in 2007 and spent parts of the next four seasons in the big show, topping out with a career best 42.2 IP in 2010 with the Royals. He’d make 26 appearances total, including 10 starts, posting a 5.62 ERA and 1.580 WHIP over 81.2 innings of work.
He did pitch 811 innings in the minor leagues, including over 523 at Triple-A alone.
Since being released by the Royals after the 2010 season, Bullington has spent the past four years pitching in Japan for the Hiroshima Carp. In 98 starts he’s posted a 2.93 ERA and 1.133 WHIP in 623.1 IP. Bullington’s success has only come late in his career and only overseas.