Brady Aiken’s journey to Major League baseball continues on its roller coaster path.
LHP Brady Aiken, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 @MLBDraft, underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday. http://t.co/tioqdMUWTP
— MLB (@MLB) March 26, 2015
Aiken was the number one overall pick in last year’s Major League draft, selected by the Houston Astros. He was the first high school pitcher taken since Brien Taylor in 1991. The 6 foot 4, 205 pound lefty looked far from a 17-year old high schooler, both in stature and ability.
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Coming out of Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, he had shown command of three above average pitches far beyond his years. His fastball sits in the low 90s consistently, but has hit the upper 90s at times with advanced control of the pitch. His curve has a big drop and hits in the high 70s. Aiken’s change is his least effective pitch, but still is advanced beyond it’s years, coming in at about 10 miles an hour slower than his fastball.
His ability had the Astros drooling at the bit over him, and the Astros offered him a record bonus at $6.5 million. When Aiken went for his physical, the ensuing results showed a pretty significant tear in the UCL in his throwing elbow. The Astros lowered their offer and the negotiations began. When the Astros landed at $5 million on July 18th, the deadline for unsigned draftees to agree, Aiken decided not to sign.
Aiken was just the third No. 1 draft pick to not come to terms on a contract. He joins Danny Goodwin in 1971 (who would later be redrafted in 1975) and Tim Belcher in 1983 (who was drafted the following season first overall). Aiken reentered the draft pool, expected to be the number one overall pick this year.
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Things have now changed. Aiken went to pitch for the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He threw his first pitches since last May, 13 to be precise, a week ago. He pulled himself with discomfort in his left elbow. Apparently the Astros concern over the tear in his elbow was warranted. Aiken was done for 2015, and needed the dreaded Tommy John surgery.
What has become more of a rite of passage than an emergency surgery, Aiken had the procedure completed on Wednesday. It went successfully, as he tweeted out:
Aiken’s ability and potential should keep him high on the radar in this year’s draft. The 18-year old lefty should still be a top 10 pick. With the Astros slated to select second overall, will they give Aiken another shot at being their future ace?