Tigers Top Ten Disappointments: #4 Greg Gohr

Once in a while during a slow off-season, as a writer you have to look around for some inspiration. I was doing so one day last week, when I came across a top 10 bum list from one of Fansided’s other baseball sites, Lasorda’s Lair. I thought, that is a pretty good idea, and at least could be some fun for me anyway. So a big nod to them for the idea, and please check out their list as well.

My list of Tigers bums doesn’t go back too far in history. Approximately the past 30 years or so, and while I am sure that there is going to be some dispute about the list (hint: Jason Grilli is not on it), I wanted to let you know what I was thinking before I start this list. Essentially, it’s about performance, or lack of it, coupled with the expectation that the player would perform. A player’s draft status, and/or who they were traded for played a role in deciding who was on this list. As well as what they have/had done the rest of their careers.

Without further delay, I give you the Tigers 4th biggest disappointment on my list…..

Greg Gohr is another blast from the past that might have some of our younger Tigers fans wondering who in heck is Greg Gohr? That’s okay, I like to provide a little information to the kids once in a while. Unlike so many of the other players on the list so far, Gohr was a homegrown player that never lived up to the expectations he was drafted under.

Gohr, a right-handed pitcher, was selected in the first round in the 1989 draft. The 21st pick overall out of Santa Clara, Gohr made his debut with the Tigers in 1993. Groomed as a starter, Gohr made 16 appearances with the Tigers in relief, and needless to say, being on this list, he struggled. Gohr posted an ERA of 5.96 in 1993, but did strike out 23 batters in his 22.2 innings. In 1994, Gohr made 8 appearances for the Tigers, 6 of them starts, and held his own with an ERA of 4.50. Unfortunately, that would be the best things get for Gohr.

Gohr battled injury throughout his career, having back issues, elbow soreness, and shoulder soreness, and by 1996, the Tigers had already given up on Gohr, who had started 16 games for them that season, producing an ERA of 7.17. The Tigers engineered a trade with the Angels in 1996 for Damian Easley, and Gohr finished up with the Angels as a reliever posting an ERA of 7.50.

Despite the trade of Gohr giving us Damion Easley, he was one of the more disappointing draft choices the Tigers have had that made the major leagues. It wasn’t just about injuries, it was about hittable stuff. Gohr’s career numbers tell that story nicely. He finished with a career ERA of 6.21 and a WHIP of 1.730. Gohr didn’t strike out people and proved to be way too hittable, giving up 11.5 hits per 9 over the course of his career.

This wasn’t the biggest miss by the Tigers organization on a #1 draft choice, but out of the ones that made the major leagues, Gohr struggled as much as any of them. The fact that he was taken 21 overall, and that he was traded for a rather productive Damion Easley, kept him from being a little higher on this list.

As it is, Greg Gohr makes my list at #4.