The 2025 MLB season handed out some serious reality checks—and not just to fans hoping their teams would finally “put it all together.” No, we’re talking about the players who came into the year riding high on talent, hype, and past success, only to crash-land in the cold, unforgiving world of underperformance. And let’s be real: this sport doesn’t do subtle when it comes to exposing cracks.
Sandy Alcantara Goes from Cy Young to Sidelined
Let’s start with Sandy Alcantara, the Marlins’ ace and the 2022 NL Cy Young winner. He had a 5.36 ERA this year. Not a typo. That’s the third-worst mark in the entire league—and a career lowlight for a guy who once made hitters look like Little Leaguers with a bad eye. Only 12 of his 33 starts were even considered quality outings. Add in a WHIP north of 1.27—his worst since 2019—and it was a forgettable year for a guy used to being unforgettable. Still, he stayed defiant. After his final start, Alcantara told reporters, “I’m a strong man… next year it’s going to be completely different.” Maybe. But 2025 was undeniably rough.
Oneil Cruz’s Power Fizzles Under the Weight of Strikeouts
Now to Oneil Cruz. Physically, he is a freak of nature. Fastest bat speed. Insane exit velocity. Built like a tight end. But the bat just never woke up. Cruz hit a dismal .200—dead last among qualified hitters—and struck out in nearly a third of his plate appearances. Two separate oblique injuries didn’t help either, limiting him to 90 games. His final line was a weak .220/.307/.366 with just 9 home runs. For a guy who was a Silver Slugger two years ago, that’s a cliff dive.
Anthony Volpe’s Sophomore MLB Season Goes Sideways
Then there’s Anthony Volpe, who had Yankee fans buzzing last spring with his slick defense and quick bat. Fast forward to October, and it’s hard to sugarcoat it—Volpe was one of the worst everyday hitters in baseball. His .212 average was the lowest in the American League. His .272 OBP was the third-worst in MLB. And his defense, while flashy at times, came with 18 errors, tying him for the fifth-most in the league. That’s not the leap Yankees fans wanted in year two.
The common thread here is high expectations and brutal results. Whether it was veterans like Alcantara falling off a cliff or young stars like Cruz and Volpe failing to meet the moment, 2025 demonstrated that hype doesn’t necessarily translate to hardware. And in a league that moves fast, the margin for error is razor-thin.
