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Originally posted by LivnLegend
there wasn't a scout in America who would not have given his left testicle to sign Todd Van Poppel or Brien Taylor.
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This story is well known but a few may not have heard of the future millions that Taylor wasted in a bar fight.
When the New York Yankees gave the North Carolina prep star a record $1.55 million signing bonus in 1991, it was such news that CBS' "60 Minutes" did a segment on it.
The 17-year-old Beaufort, N.C., native was dubbed the next Dwight Gooden after he posted a 29-6 record and struck out 476 batters in 239 innings in his prep career. The No. 1 pick of the amateur draft, the Yankees picked him ahead of Manny Ramírez (No. 13), Cliff Floyd (No. 14) and Shawn Green (No. 16).
Taylor received a rude awakening in Class-A ball, telling reporters after his first pro start: "In high school, nobody ever got on base. So I've got some adjusting to do."
But it didn't really matter. On Dec. 18, 1993, Taylor got into a barroom fight back home with a childhood friend and landed on his throwing shoulder.
He missed the 1994 season after undergoing surgery and was never the same.
Taylor's fastball, clocked in the high 90s before, fell to the low 80s. The Yankees' plans of having Taylor and Andy Pettitte as their one-two punch went out in a flash.
The Yankees finally gave up on Taylor in 1998. Seattle gave him a look in '99, but he couldn't even get the kids out at extended spring training.
He pitched five games for Cleveland's Class-A team in 2000, giving up eight runs in 2 2/3 innings. He pitched in just 41 minor-league games, never reaching Triple-A.