The former No. 1 overall pick by the Houston Astros last season was on everyone’s “sleeper list” for the draft. When he was still available at No.17, the Cleveland Indians made Brady Aiken their first-round pick. Is a pitcher coming off Tommy John surgery worth the gamble? Absolutely. Every pick in the draft is a gamble when you’re dealing with young kids.
Last year, the Astros and Aiken initially agreed to the $6.5 million signing bonus. But following the physical, the Astros backed off. The fear wasn’t just that he may need Tommy John surgery, but that the structure of his elbow may not be able to fully recover from it.