Top MLB prospects sometimes don’t pan out for a bunch of reasons, even if they seem like can’t-miss talents on paper. Here are some of the reasons:

The jump from minors to majors is massive

Hitting or pitching against Triple-A players isn’t the same as facing All-Stars. Velocity, movement, control, and strategy are all at a higher level in the majors. Some players can’t make the adjustment.

Baseball has a long season and tons of repetitive stress. Shoulder/elbow injuries for pitchers, oblique/back injuries for hitters—it only takes one to throw off development.

Confidence, focus, and the ability to handle failure are huge. A player might dominate the minors but crumble under the pressure or get stuck in their head when they struggle.

A player can have five-tool potential, but “potential” doesn’t always mean “production.” Some hitters never develop enough plate discipline. Some pitchers have electric stuff but no command.

Not every team is great at developing talent. Coaching, usage, and the system a player is in all matter. One team might ruin a pitcher with bad mechanics advice; another might unlock his potential.

Scouting is still part art, part science. A player might look like a future star because he crushed in high school or college, but he was just beating weaker competition. Projection isn’t always reality.

Work ethic, lifestyle choices, personal issues—these can derail even the most gifted players.