Five Biggest Tigers’ Draft Busts Since 2000: Number One

We’ve finally made it to the No. 1 draft bust since the millennium for the Detroit Tigers. And it’s painful to admit this, given the fact that he’s one of the coolest, most down-to-earth human beings there are. But without further ado, the Tigers’ worst draft pick, or biggest bust, is Jacob Turner.

The 1991-born pitcher was drafted at 18 years old with the ninth overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft out of Westminster Christian Academy in Town and Country, Missouri.

Turner immediately entered the Tigers organization as the No. 1 prospect in the farm system and the No. 26 prospect in all of baseball, according to Baseball America, which stated that Turner had the best curveball and changeup in the system.

Turner was supposed to pair with Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Aníbal Sánchez, adding a fresh new face to one of the biggest and baddest pitching rotations in all of baseball.

The Tigers did get their pitching rotation a boost, but it came through a trade with Seattle, sending Charlie Furbush to the Mariners in exchange for Doug Fister. Fister turned out to be a pivotal pitcher for the remainder of the season, but the trade also opened the door for the debut of the ninth overall pick, Jacob Turner.

Sadly, the Turner experience in 2011 only lasted three games.

Turner finished with a record of 0-1 after appearing in three games and pitching 12.2 innings. Unfortunately, there was nothing spectacular about his debut. Over those 12.2 innings, Turner allowed 17 hits and 13 runs, 12 of which were earned, finishing his first stint in the big leagues with a dismal 8.53 ERA.

Then, in 2012, with the Tigers boasting one of the best rotations in baseball, Turner was all but forgotten. Despite having one of the most talented pitching staffs in the game, Detroit still couldn't secure a single World Series victory and remains the last club to be swept in a World Series.

Turner was seemingly discarded out of the gate because the players already in the rotation were so good. He never really had the opportunity to develop while carrying the weight of extreme expectations and being viewed as the next Justin Verlander.

Instead, Turner pitched in another three games for Detroit, allowing 17 more hits in 12.1 innings. He finished with a 1-1 record with the Tigers, but after allowing another 11 earned runs in his second stint, Turner wrapped up his Detroit major league career with 34 total hits allowed over six games. He surrendered 23 earned runs and finished with an ERA above 8.00.

Midway through the 2012 season, Turner was dealt to the Miami Marlins. In Miami, Turner put together his best season, going 3-8 in 20 starts while posting a career-low 3.74 ERA.

Turner spent two and a half years with the Marlins before being traded again, this time to the Cubs. He then took a year away from the majors before returning in 2016, pitching for the White Sox, Nationals and eventually making his way back to Miami.

He finished his career full circle, returning to Detroit after signing with the Tigers in 2018. During his second stint with the organization, Turner pitched just 1.0 inning, allowing five earned runs on six hits.

That was the last time Turner ever pitched in a major league game.

Seven years after making his major league debut and nearly a decade after being drafted, Turner made his final appearance in the same uniform where it all started.

Turner never lived up to the hype. In almost comically bad fashion, he not only failed to meet expectations but also became one of the biggest draft disappointments in Tigers history.

A reminder that there are no guarantees in life or in baseball.

Continue reading the series:

Tigers' Biggest Draft Busts Since 2000: [Number Two]

Tigers' Biggest Draft Busts Since 2000: [Number Three]

Tigers' Biggest Draft Busts Since 2000: [Number Four]

Tigers' Biggest Draft Busts Since 2000: [Number Five]