Even this early in the MLB season, enough games have happened for certain players to be performing well below expectations.

Not that it's time to panic, but it is worth gauging how worried we should be about some of the performances we've seen so far.

Keep in mind the game is experiencing some of the most significant rule changes it's ever seen, most notably the pitch clock, which is impacting both pitchers and hitters.

And like every year, there are players adjusting to either new teams or new roles on their existing teams.

MLB

10 Former Top MLB Prospects Who Can Finally Breakout in 2023

Here, we take a look at how worried we should be about eight of MLB's biggest busts up to this point.

 

M.J. Melendez, Kansas City Royals

Melendez has not taken the expected leap from his rookie season. After hitting 18 home runs in 2022, the 24-year-old has just one homer so far this season, failing to show the power that is supposed to come with his game.

Defense is not Melendez's calling card, though he does have this impressive grab to his resume. His place in right field is solely to get his bat in the lineup, but the results have not been there for Melendez and the Royals.

Through 67 at-bats, he is slashing just .149/.256/.254. His chase rate and strikeout percentage are among the worst in MLB. Melendez still hits the ball hard, just infrequently, whiffing far too often.

He is supposed to be part of the Royals' young core, along with Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino. But Kansas City should be worried whether Melendez is the power hitter he showed to be in the minor leagues two years ago and as a rookie last year.

 

Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies

With Bryce Harper out to start this season and much of last season, Schwarber has emerged as the team leader. He posted a team-high .827 OPS, 46 home runs and 94 RBI on the way to a National League pennant.

This season has not been so promising just 79 at-bats in. Schwarber is slashing .215/.319/.456 and only .200/.333/.360 over his past seven games.

Schwarber leads the Phillies with five home runs, but his expected slugging is down from .535, which was in the top 2 percentile last year, to .444. His hard-hit percentage is down from 54.4 percent to 45.5 percent.

These numbers have to improve if the Phillies are going to make good on an active offseason and try to make another run to the World Series.

Fortunately for Philly, Schwarber is a proven veteran who has performed in plenty of big moments, whether for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox or Phillies.