Brady

Aiken

Aiken, now 25, hasn’t thrown a pitch in professional ball since 2019. Selected No. 1 overall by the Astros in 2014, Aiken failed to sign and ended up needing Tommy John surgery before being drafted No. 17 overall by the Indians in 2015. He’s yet to pitch above A-ball.

Castrovince adds that the Indians are unsure whether Aiken will return to the game in time for spring training. Aiken -- who is still known better for failing to sign when the Astros took him first overall in 2014 -- has really struggled in pro ball after coming back from Tommy John surgery.

Aiken struck out three and walked one. The 19-year-old was selected No. 1 overall by the Astros two years ago, but didn’t end up signing and fell to No. 17 overall last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The Indians will bring him along slowly after surgery, so he’s a ways off from the majors, but he still offers plenty of promise in the long-term.

Aiken did strike out four in his five innings, but that was basically the only positive of the start. He walked three, and that gives him 13 in just under 14 innings. It’s too early to “give up” on a talent like this, but so far, the southpaw has been a major disappointment.

It’s a surprising pick for the Indians, who clearly are gambling on upside after filling out their system with a host of high-probability, first-round picks last year. There were a lot of concerns about Aiken’s long-term health after he underwent Tommy John surgery in late March. The 18-year-old left-hander, who didn’t sign with the Astros last year as the No. 1 overall pick, showed elite stuff prior to the injury, with a plus fastball that reached 96 mph as well as two plus secondary offerings. And the fact that he also projects for plus command makes Aiken all the more attractive. The recommended slot value for the No. 17 overall pick is $2,393,600.

Last year’s No. 1 overall pick left his first outing with IMG Academy last Thursday with an arm injury, and now everyone’s worst fears have been realized. Aiken, of course, didn’t sign after being picked by the Astros but had a shot to again be the No. 1 pick in 2015. The young lefty will now be sidelined for the next year-plus, but it’s still possible he’s a first-round pick in June.

It’s not clear at this point what Aiken will receive as a signing bonus, but the recommended slot value for the No. 17 overall pick is $2.3936 million. Aikin, of course, was the No. 1 overall selection in 2014 but didn’t come to terms with the Astros in a well-publicized disagreement over an elbow concern. Aiken since had Tommy John surgery and won’t pitch competitively in the Indians’ system likely until around midseason of next year.

Aiken is the first prep pitcher to go first overall since the Yankees took Brien Taylor in 1991. Aiken throws 94-97 mph with a curveball as his No. 2 pitch and a changeup. He’s also working on a cutter. The Astros tend to go slowly with their prospect, so expect Aiken to remain in the minors until at least 2017 even if he blossoms as hoped.

MLB.com’s Jim Callis reported on June 7 that the two parties had agreed to terms with a signing bonus of $6.5 million, but the elbow issue was presumably discovered during Aiken’s pre-signing physical. The Astros never made their agreement with Aiken official, so there’s room still for renegotiation. The 17-year-old left-handed starter was selected No. 1 overall on June 5 out of Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego.

Not only did they fail to sign Aiken, they also didn’t sign fifth-rounder Jacob Nix and Mac Marshall. The Astros seem convinced that Aiken is dealing with a real issue with his pitching elbow and wanted him at a discount, while Aiken’s camp contended that the hurler was just fine physically. The ‘Stros reportedly upped their offer to $5 million, but advisor Casey Close held firm at the originally agreed upon $6.5 million bonus. Aiken is the third No. 1 overall pick ever not to sign and the first since 1983. The Astros will receive the No. 2 overall pick in next year’s draft as compensation for not signing Aiken. The lefty is committed to go to UCLA, but he instead could head to junior college before re-entering the draft next year.