It wasn’t that long ago that Grady Sizemore was a premier player. Really it wasn’t. Just four years ago he was worth 7.4 wins above replacement. Over a four year stretch from 2005-2008, Sizemore was a bona fide star on his way to a great career.

But brilliance can be fleeting for athletes and Sizemore ran into injury after injury. He’s played 212 games since and hasn’t hit above .250. He was a great player on the brink and then everything was gone.

He’s hurt again and his 2013 season will be on hold for a while. The 30 year old outfielder could have been one of the game’s top players, but instead may never play another meaningful game. That’s how quickly things can turn.

Take a look at his Fangraphs dashboard:

Four straight seasons of 157+ games, 20+HR, 20+SB, awesome walk rates, high average, and good power. He played solid to great defense and did so at a premium position on the field. Grady Sizemore was awesome.

And then Grady Sizemore was nothing. Only Albert Pujols had a higher positions player WAR in 2006. Pujols. That was it. From 2005-2008, Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, and Chase Utley were the only players to post higher WARs.

He was awesome to watch too. I didn’t really like doing it because he played against my favorite team, but he was spectacular. Power, speed, and highlight reel plays. Sizemore did it all and then he did nothing.

It’s a somber reminder for us that players who look invincible can vanish very quickly. Teams are backing up the money truck to free agents right now and one of them could be the next Sizemore. Cut down in his prime by a body that’s failing him.

So while he’ll work hard to get back and other players make the big dollars he was destined for, take a look at those stat lines again and think about Grady Sizemore and what could have been.