Fansided

MLB: 8 of baseball’s most infamous one-year wonders

By Ryan Morik

DETROIT - SEPTEMBER 3: Joel Zumaya #54 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on September 3, 2006 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Los Angeles won the game 2-1. (Photo By Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT - SEPTEMBER 3: Joel Zumaya #54 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on September 3, 2006 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Los Angeles won the game 2-1. (Photo By Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT – SEPTEMBER 3: Joel Zumaya #54 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on September 3, 2006 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Los Angeles won the game 2-1. (Photo By Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT – SEPTEMBER 3: Joel Zumaya #54 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on September 3, 2006 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Los Angeles won the game 2-1. (Photo By Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Joel Zumaya

1.94 ERA, 10.5 K/9, 1.18 WHIP in 2006

I remember Joel Zumaya as the OG flamethrower. Watching a guy throw 103 consistently was unreal. And of course, as a Yankee fan, he gave me nightmares when he retired all six batters he faced in the 2006 ALDS. Hell, he threw 233 pitches at 100 miles an hour or more in 2006.

DETROIT – September 3: Joel Zumaya of the Detroit Tigers sign on the scoreboard during the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan on September 3, 2006. The Angels defeated the Tigers 2-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
DETROIT – September 3: Joel Zumaya of the Detroit Tigers sign on the scoreboard during the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan on September 3, 2006. The Angels defeated the Tigers 2-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Zumaya’s ERA led all relievers that threw at least 80 innings, and his 97 strikeouts his rookie season were tied for the fifth-most among relievers.

Zumaya was supposed to be what Aroldis Chapman is now, but instead, he is perhaps best known for getting hurt playing Guitar Hero. He said that wasn’t true, and never actually admitted how he got hurt, but no matter what, that’s what he’s known for.

DETROIT – September 3: Joel Zumaya of the Detroit Tigers sign on the scoreboard during the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan on September 3, 2006. The Angels defeated the Tigers 2-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
DETROIT – September 3: Joel Zumaya of the Detroit Tigers sign on the scoreboard during the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan on September 3, 2006. The Angels defeated the Tigers 2-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

So after making 62 appearances his rookie season, Zumaya would go on to make no more than 31 in a single season ever again. His ERA in his next, and final, four years climbed to 3.78, and his K/9 dropped to 8.1. Zumaya’s last big league appearance came at the age of 25. He underwent surgery in 2011, and signed with the Minnesota Twins in 2012, but he tore his UCL throwing a live batting practice session. He ultimately retired in 2014.

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