1-season wonder for each AL club

Recent Major League Baseball history is littered with players who managed to burst onto the scene with an eye-catching season, but staying relevant in the bigs requires more than a one-off. Many have offered the promise of stardom for a brief moment only to end up as a flash in the pan.

Here is a notable one-season wonder for each American League club over the last 20 years.

If you missed it: NL's one-season wonders

Baltimore Orioles

Larry Bigbie, 2004

The Orioles drafted Bigbie 21st overall in 1999 and called him up to the majors two years later, but it wasn't until 2003 that he was able to stick in Baltimore. His lone full season came in 2004, when he slugged 15 home runs, was a positive defender in center field, and was worth more WAR than teammate Rafael Palmeiro, who hit over 500 career homers. It seemed like Bigbie had a future in the Orioles' outfield, but he regressed rapidly in 2005 and was promptly traded to the Rockies, with whom he failed to homer in 23 games (12 at Coors Field). His big-league career ended after 17 appearances with the Cardinals in 2006. He was named in the Mitchell Report the following year and later admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while with the Orioles.

Boston Red Sox

Steven Wright, 2016

One of baseball's last knuckleballers, Wright briefly rode the pitch to fame in Boston. He earned his first All-Star nod as a 31-year-old in 2016. His 3.33 ERA was the second-lowest among Red Sox starters, and he was one of only three hurlers on his team worth more than 2.0 WAR that campaign. Wright also tallied four complete games and one shutout before a shoulder issue marked the end of both his season and his effectiveness as a big-league pitcher. A combination of injuries and suspensions for violating the league's domestic violence and drug policies limited him to 31 appearances over the last three years. The Red Sox released him in October.

Chicago White Sox

Philip Humber, 2011

In 2011, Humber finished in a three-way tie for the highest WAR among White Sox pitchers alongside Mark Buehrle and Gavin Floyd despite never previously pitching more than 21 2/3 innings in a major-league season. The former No. 3 pick of the Mets supplied the South Siders with 163 innings and looked like a future stalwart in the rotation. However, he'd flame out after throwing one of the most surprising perfect games in history the following campaign and pitched his last big-league frame in 2013.

Cleveland Indians

Kelly Shoppach, 2008

Shoppach had never appeared in more than 59 games in a season before 2008 but made the most out of his opportunity to replace an injured Victor Martinez that year by hitting the most homers and posting the highest WAR among AL catchers with at least 400 plate appearances. His .256 ISO also led all backstops in his league, and only AL batting champ Joe Mauer posted a higher wRC+ among catchers. Following that unbelievable campaign, however, Shoppach was only worth a combined 1.3 WAR in five seasons with five different teams.

Detroit Tigers

Shane Halter, 2001

The Tigers were terrible in 2001, but at least Halter looked good after four years of ineffectiveness with four teams. No Tigers hitter managed more doubles than Halter, who was also ranked near the top of the team in RBIs, OPS, wRC+, and WAR. He'd never total more than 39 RBIs in any subsequent season, last appearing in 46 games and hitting .202 for the 2004 Angels.

Houston Astros

Lucas Harrell, 2012

Harrell was worth more WAR in 2012 than he was for his entire career (2.4). That means, other than in his one good season in 2012, he was worth negative WAR - and it happened quickly for the right-hander. Harrell authored a 5.86 ERA and 5.42 FIP over 153 2/3 innings in 2013, leading the AL in losses and walks issued.

Kansas City Royals

Mike Aviles, 2008

Aviles' 2008 campaign earned him a fourth-place finish in AL Rookie of the Year voting, but he'd never flash that kind of production again. In just 102 games following a midseason call-up, the Puerto Rican led the team in batting average, OPS, and WAR and also finished third in runs scored, fourth in doubles, and third in steals. Aviles played to an OBP under .300 in seven consecutive seasons after his outstanding debut and had an OPS below .600 in each of his last three major-league campaigns.

Los Angeles Angels

Peter Bourjos, 2011

When Bourjos earned his first promotion to the majors in 2010, it seemed his incredible defense would make up for his lack of prowess at the dish. However, the center fielder started hitting the ball the following season, posting a 116 OPS+ and likely preventing a young Mike Trout from receiving a call-up even sooner. Bourjos was traded alongside Randal Grichuk in exchange for David Freese and Fernando Salas following the 2013 campaign, and he never recaptured his 2011 form, hitting a measly .224/.279/.356 with five different teams.

Minnesota Twins

Lew Ford, 2004

Ford was fantastic in 2004. The outfielder led the Twins with a .381 OBP and added 20 steals, 31 doubles, and 72 RBIs. He received some down-ballot MVP consideration during his breakout campaign and looked like he could be an all-around offensive threat in Minnesota's lineup for years to come. But Ford never amounted to much in the majors after that. He'd dabble in Japan and independent leagues for years before playing his last big-league games with the Orioles in 2012.

New York Yankees

Greg Bird, 2015

For six glorious weeks in 2015, Bird was the word in the Bronx. A top prospect heralded as the Yankees' future at first base, Bird debuted in August 2015 and proceeded to lead the offense down the stretch. In only 178 plate appearances, he smashed 11 homers - nine in September - and finished with a higher wRC+ than veteran teammates Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran. But Bird tore his labrum that winter and missed all of 2016. Outside of a minor resurgence during the 2017 playoffs, he's never been the same. A variety of other injuries limited him to a .675 OPS in just 140 regular-season games since 2017. The Rangers invited Bird to spring training after his release from the Yankees, but he went just 3-for-29.

Oakland Athletics

Daric Barton, 2010

A's fans may remember Bobby Crosby better for winning the 2004 AL Rookie of the Year award, but he improved markedly as a hitter the following year before flaming out. Barton, though, is a true one-hit wonder. Despite putting together a five-win season in 2010, Barton was worth a grand total of 7.7 WAR for his career. That means over eight campaigns, nearly 65% of his value came from one campaign. The first baseman actually hit decently throughout his career, but his inability to stay on the field (six seasons with fewer than 70 games played) earned him a spot on this list.

Seattle Mariners

Franklin Gutierrez, 2009

Gutierrez's 2009 campaign helped the slugger achieve fan-favorite status in Seattle; so much so that when the Venezuelan attempted a comeback in 2015 (and tore the cover off the ball), it was a massive disappointment when he could only play 59 games. After mostly floundering as a member of the Indians for his first four seasons, Gutierrez - whose nickname is "Death To Flying Things" - made the most of his opportunity with the Mariners in '09. He would never again be worth more than 2.3 WAR in a season.

Tampa Bay Rays

Andy Sonnanstine, 2008

Sonnanstine, a 13th-round pick in 2004, established himself as a solid back-end piece for the Rays' staff during the team's pennant-winning 2008 season. Though James Shields, Matt Garza, Scott Kazmir, and even September call-up David Price received the attention, Sonnanstine quietly produced the club's second-highest WAR while throwing the second-most innings. He also won two of his three postseason starts, including the Rays' ALDS-clinching victory in Chicago. But that playoff run was his career high point. Sonnanstine's 6.61 ERA in 2009 was the worst in the majors among pitchers who threw 90-plus innings, and he was essentially a spare part when not injured in 2010 and 2011. The Rays non-tendered him after the 2011 campaign, and he hasn't pitched professionally since.

Texas Rangers

Tanner Scheppers, 2013

It might be hard to remember, but Scheppers quickly became a reliable fireman for the Rangers in his second major-league season. Over the next four campaigns until his eventual release, Scheppers would manage a mere 74 innings and a miserable 6.57 ERA. The right-hander wound up testing his mettle in the Japan Eastern League - one of two minor-league affiliates to NPB - where he also struggled.

Toronto Blue Jays

Chris Colabello, 2015

Colabello spent his first seven years toiling in independent leagues before putting up a combined minus-0.7 WAR in parts of two seasons with the Twins. Then the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers in 2015, and he morphed into a key cog of the team's explosive offense overnight, hitting 15 homers with a 138 OPS+ for the AL East champions. Colabello added another 11 hits in the playoffs while posting a 1.099 OPS in the ALDS. But after a 2-for-29 start in 2016, Colabello received an 80-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs, and he hasn't appeared in the majors since. He last played affiliated baseball in 2017, and he's been bouncing between independent circuits and the Italian Baseball League.