The biggest MLB draft busts for every NL West team

Major League Baseball’s draft is an inexact science where teams often don’t see whether a player will succeed at baseball’s highest level until years after he has been selected.

While some later-round draft picks will eventually strike gold for a franchise (such as Hall of Famer Mike Piazza as a 62^nd -round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 and four-time All-Star Jack Clark as a 13 ^th -round selection of the San Fr ancisco Giants in 1973), much of the focus is on the players selected in the early rounds and their eventual success or demise. 

With that in mind, let’s take a look at one player from each team in the National League West who was drafted early and turned out to be a bust. 

Arizona Diamondbacks — SS Corey Myers

The Diamondbacks had high hopes for Myers, a Phoenix high schooler, drafting him fourth overall in 1999. However, Myers tried four different positions and never made it past Triple-A, finally retiring with a .273 career batting average over nine minor league seasons.

Colorado Rockies — RHP Riley Pint

Selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2016 MLB draft, Pint struggled with his command in the minors and retired dur ing the 2021 season after reaching High-A. He came back and eventually pitched for the Rockies, logging a 22.09 ERA over 3.2 innings.

Los Angeles Dodgers — RHP Zach Lee

The 28^th overall pick in the 2010 MLB draft, Lee made one start for the Dodgers … and it didn’t go well. He gave up 11 hits and seven runs in 4.2 innings at the New York Mets as the Dodgers were pounded 15-2 on July 25, 2015.

While Lee never made an impact in L.A., his trade to the Seattle Mariners on June 19, 2016, netted the Dodgers Chris Taylor, a key piece of three World Series runs. 

San Diego Padres — OF Donovan Tate

Taken with the third overall pick in 2009, Tate received a $6.7M signing bonus, the highest in Padres history at the time. Tate’s career was derailed by drug-related suspensions and injuries, and he never advanced past A-ball.

San Francisco Giants — OF Angel Villalona

Signing with the Giants at the age of 16 and handed a $2.1M bonus, Villalona was charged with murder in the Dominican Republic in 2009. While the charge was eventually dropped, he missed two seasons because of the legal issues and never made it past the Double-A level.