Nearly two months into the MLB regular season, and it’s safe to say that not every player has exceeded expectations. Many have been in a funk for much of the season and can be considered disappointments for their teams thus far in 2018.
Here are the most disappointing players on each American League team to start the 2018 season. This list strictly deals with performances on the field, so players who have been disappointments because of injuries like Greg Bird are not included. Also, while Wellington Castillo and Robinson Cano have disappointed their respective clubs by being suspended 80 games, they didn’t endure struggles while playing.
(All stats are from games played through May 25.)
Baltimore Orioles
- Chris Davis, 1B
Take a look at Davis’ numbers this season, and it’s amazing at how paltry they are. Especially when it is taken into account that he is making over $21 million this season. He carries a minuscule .155 batting average with just four homers and 67 strikeouts in 187 plate appearances. He has come a long way down from the player who cracked 53 home runs in 2013, 47 in 2015, and 38 in 2016.
Boston Red Sox
- Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
On May 26, 2016, Bradley finally saw his hitting streak come to an end after 29 games. Thus far this season, his longest hitting streak is a whopping three games. He is hitting just .177 in 43 games with a not-much-higher .277 slugging percentage.
Chicago White Sox
- Lucas Giolito, SP
Giolito was the fifth-ranked prospect according to Baseball America entering 2016. Acquired by the White Sox in the deal that sent Adam Eaton to the Nationals, he was impressive after being called up last year with a 2.38 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in seven starts. Through 10 starts this year, the 23-year-old has been shelled to the tune of a 7.53 ERA and 1.71 WHIP.
Cleveland Indians
- Jason Kipnis, 2B
Many chalked up Kipnis’ struggles at the dish last season as just an off year. It’s become even worse for the two-time All-Star in 2018 though. A .178 average and .254 slugging percentage are a far cry from the .276 and .429 he put up from 2013-16.
Detroit Tigers
- Michael Fulmer, SP
Fulmer hasn’t been bad, let’s get that straight.
He just hasn’t shown much progression since winning American League Rookie of the Year in 2016. In 10 starts, he has an ERA this season just north of four (4.08), and he has given up at least five earned runs on three separate occasions.
Houston Astros
- Joe Smith, RP
The 34-year-old Smith signed a two-year/$15 million deal to join Houston in the offseason. A reliable arm out of the bullpen throughout his career, he pitched to a 2.72 ERA from 2011-17. It hasn’t been more of the same to start his Astros career as he currently owns a 6.91 ERA (allowed 11 earned runs and three homers in 14.1 innings).
Kansas City Royals
- Danny Duffy, SP
The 29-year-old Duffy has been the Royals’ most reliable and likely best starting pitcher since being entered fully in the rotation in 2014.
His ERA has skyrocketed to 6.14 in 11 starts this season, and the left-hander has already given up 14 homers in 58.2 innings.
Los Angeles Angels
- Kole Calhoun, RF
It can easily be argued that Calhoun has been the worst offensive player in the league so far this season. He has a .160 batting average, .195 on-base percentage, and .199 slugging percentage. He has exactly one homer, one double, and one triple in his 164 plate appearances. The 30-year-old hit 80 home runs, 112 doubles, and 12 triples from 2014-17.
Minnesota Twins
- Byron Buxton, CF
Lance Lynn has been a disappointing free agent signing, but Buxton was supposed to make the jump into being an elite player. The second overall pick in 2012 struggled at the plate to begin his career but went on to hit .314 with 12 home runs over his last 248 plate appearances in 2017.
He missed nearly a month earlier this season and currently has a .167 batting average, zero home runs, and a nearly 9:1 strikeout to walk ratio (26 strikeouts, three walks) in 82 plate appearances.
New York Yankees
- Dellin Betances, RP
Betances still has filthy stuff as he has struck out 38 hitters in 21 innings. Those 16.8 strikeouts per nine innings are better than what was already an extremely impressive career mark of 14.4 entering this year. Also prior to this year though, he had allowed 5.3 hits per nine innings, and in three of the last four seasons allowed less than five. He has allowed nearly a hit an inning in 2018 (19 in 21 innings), giving up four long balls, and has an ERA of 4.71.
Oakland Athletics
- Kendall Graveman, SP
Not a dominant starter pitcher, but Graveman at least proved to be serviceable from 2015-17 posting a 4.11 ERA in 71 starts. In seven starts in 2018, he has given up nine home runs in 34.1 innings with a 7.60 ERA. He has been sent down and is currently pitching for the Triple-A team.
Seattle Mariners
- Felix Hernandez, SP
While “King Felix” is a possible future Hall of Famer, his days of intimidating opposing hitters may be over. Last year was his worst season in quite some time as he finished with a 4.32 ERA in 16 starts. It has gotten even worse for the 32-year-old Hernandez this year as his ERA has jumped to 5.58 in his first 11 starts.
Tampa Bay Rays
- Chris Archer, SP
Carlos Gomez is another possible choice here, but Archer shows the ability at times to be a true ace but never is consistent enough.
Posting ERAs slightly over four in both 2016 and 2017, the 29-year-old currently owns a 4.68 ERA in 11 starts. After striking out 10.8 hitters per nine innings from 2015-17, he has struck out 8.7 thus far in 2018.
Texas Rangers
- Rougned Odor, 2B
Odor wasn’t very good in 2017, but he at least hit 30 home runs and stole 15 bases. In his first 96 plate appearances of 2018, he has just one homer, no steals, 25 strikeouts, and a .193 batting average. Texas is still waiting to see the player again who hit .271 with 33 home runs in 2016.
Toronto Blue Jays
- Marcus Stroman, SP
Stroman currently resides on the DL with shoulder fatigue and isn’t expected back until at least mid-June. He could use the time off as he looked very hittable in his seven starts this year. His ugly numbers include a 0-5 record, 7.71 ERA, and 1.71 WHIP. The 27-year-old finished eighth in American League Cy Young voting just last season.
