Texas Rangers: Top 10 biggest busts of the decade
By Travis Koch
Texas Rangers: Top 10 biggest busts of the decade
Michael Choice
Choice was drafted 10th overall out of the University of Texas at Arlington in 2010 by the Oakland Athletics. Scouts marveled over the young man’s raw strength and athleticism, projecting him as an impact major league corner outfielder. He got off to a hot start in the A’s system and became the centerpiece of a 2013 trade that routed him back to Arlington, Texas. He settled in as the Rangers’ #3 prospect.
Having already made his major league debut with the Athletics, it was only a matter of time before he joined the big club.
His Texas Rangers debut occurred on opening day of 2014. He entered the game as a pinch-hitter and went 1-for-2. Choice notched regular playing time through June, but declining performance resulted in a demotion to Triple-A. At 2014’s end, Texas’ #3 prospect had a .182 batting average, .250 OBP, and a .570 OPS.
The Rangers promoted Choice from Triple-A to play one measly game in 2015. They sent him back down the following day. On August 15th, he was designated for assignment. He has not played in a big-league game since the one in 2015.
Similar to nearly every other bust, Choice could not hit at the peak of competition. While he did produce impressive bat speed and stunning exit velocities, his contact rate was far too low to find success. The Rangers’ high hopes for the Fort Worth native quickly crumbled.