5 pitchers who failed to turn into aces with the Mets

How Tim Leary's Mets trajectory plummeted

Leary was selected second overall by the Mets in the 1979 MLB draft with the hopes that he could be the team's number one pitcher for years to come. In his first season with the organization, Leary won the Most Valuable Player of the Texas League. The expectations were high for the youngster.

In the spring of 1981, Leary continued to overpower most of the hitters he faced, including many MLB veterans. It made it hard for the Mets to leave him in the minors, so GM Frank Cashen decided to put Leary on the 25-man roster. He made his major league debut at Wrigley Field in Chicago in 1981.

But, this is where the positive vibes ended for the pitcher. Just seven batters in, Leary felt a strong pain in his elbow and was pulled out of the game. Four days later, he was placed on the injured list, and he wouldn't throw another pitch in the MLB for 30 months.

In his next two seasons with the Mets in 1983 and 1984, Leary was not the same pitcher that many thought could be an ace. He only started two games in 1983 and 7 in 1984, where hehad a 3.38 and 4.02 ERA respectively. Then, in 1985, he was shipped to the Kansas City Royals.

Leary, who got called the next Tom Seaver, had an injury that derailed his career and his promise.