Jun 03 2009
Player Profile: Gregg Jefferies
What constitutes a failed prospect? Every year dozens of prospects enter the Majors and fail to live up to expectations. But what is the line between failure and excessive expectations? How a player that played for 14 seasons with a batting average of .289 qualify as a failure? Well, if you ask Mets fans, yes. Today I introduce you to Gregg Jefferies.
Jefferies was drafted by the Mets in the first round in 1985. He would absolutely destroy his Minor League competition. No league could contain him. By 1987, the Mets knew he was ready. But there was a problem. They had nowhere to put him. The 1987 Mets were an amazing team with stars at nearly every position on the field. They knew they had to get Jefferies on the field but the field was jam packed.
In 1988 they’d platoon him for the end of the season and he rocked all expectations. It wouldn’t last.
In 1989 he was given the starting role at first base. His hot bat suddenly fell silent. He couldn’t seem to choose his pitches well and made very little contact. He would find a team full of stars suddenly turning on him. They would publicly criticize his lack of production and question his readiness as a Major Leaguer. It became so prevalent that Jeffries actually issued an open letter to the Mets asking for a little slack. It would not be given. Even his much improved 1990 performance wasn’t enough to soothe the angered Mets fan base.
Ready to cut their lost investment, the Mets sent Jefferies to Kansas City. He would do something there that Mets fans would never forgive: succeed. Almost as if he was giving the Mets the finger, his bat exploded. He would have amazing years with Kansas City and St. Louis. An injury would lower his stats at the end of his career and he retired after the 2000 season.
Despite having a fairly decent career, he will always be thought of as a failure. Never underestimate the power of opinions in New York.
If you are interested in contacting Gregg Jefferies you can reach him at the following address:
7806 Bernal Ave
Pleasanton, CA. 94588
