Todd Van Poppel was a highly touted high school pitcher from Texas who was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 1990 MLB draft. He was considered a can't-miss prospect and was expected to be a future ace for the A's.
Van Poppel made his major league debut in 1991 at the age of 20 and showed flashes of brilliance, but also struggled with consistency. He bounced back and forth between the majors and minors over the next few years, never quite living up to the hype that surrounded him.
In 1996, Van Poppel was traded to the Detroit Tigers, where he continued to struggle. He was then traded to the Texas Rangers in 1998, where he finally found some success. He had his best season in 1999, going 13-11 with a 5.44 ERA and 150 strikeouts.
Van Poppel continued to pitch in the majors until 2004, bouncing around to several different teams. He finished his career with a record of 40-52 and a 5.58 ERA.
Despite not living up to his lofty expectations, Van Poppel still had a solid career in the majors. He was known for his fastball, which could reach the upper 90s, as well as his curveball and changeup. He also had a reputation for being a hard worker and a good teammate.
After retiring from baseball, Van Poppel became a high school baseball coach in Texas. He also worked as a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates and is currently a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Overall, Todd Van Poppel's baseball career was one of unfulfilled potential. He was a highly touted prospect who never quite lived up to the hype, but still managed to have a solid career in the majors.
⚾