Brady Aiken, LHP, Houston Astros, no major league experience
The only top 5 draft pick in the entire millennium not to sign with his drafting team, Aiken was actually not signed due to the Astros stating that they found something in his medicals that indicated that he’d be a high risk for Tommy John surgery. Sure enough, when Aiken returned to school, his elbow popped, requiring TJS. The Indians ended up taking a chance on Aiken in the 2015 draft with the 17th selection.
Aiken did not make his professional debut until the end of June in the year after he was drafted, and he pitched sparingly, throwing only 46 1/3 innings on the season, struggling with performance, posting a 5.83 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and a 21/57 BB/K ratio.
This season, Aiken is pitching with Cleveland’s low-A team in the Midwest League. He’s posted a 4.13 ERA and 1.71 WHIP, with a 38/32 BB/K ratio, struggling to locate his pitches, even though he flashes some of the elite stuff that once made him a top overall selection.
Aiken is only 20, so there is a chance that he could still recover the arm strength to make it all the way back.