Indians select IMG Academy pitcher Brady Aiken with the 17th overall pick

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Injury or not, the Cleveland Indians believe in Brady Aiken.

The former No. 1 overall pick by the Houston Astros in the 2014 Draft was selected a year later as the 17th overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft.

Aiken was the story of the draft after the drama that surrounded him after he turned down a revised offer when a physical revealed he had a small ulnar collateral ligament. But the club, who was dubbed by the baseball world as unethical, proved to be right.

In March, Aiken toed the rubber for the first time since enrolling at IMG Academy, a post-graduate in Florida. During his first inning of work, he was shut down with elbow pain, forcing him to undergo Tommy John Surgery weeks later.

Prior to this year's draft, the controversy continued to swirl, as the Aiken camp only released the details of his injury to certain clubs they believed would draft him.

But despite being hurt, upon his return Aiken should develop into one of the premier pitchers in the minors with serious big-league talent, if he manages to stay healthy.

Bio

Position: P
School: IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
Height/Weight: 6-3, 210 pounds
Age: 18
Throws: Left

Overview

Infamously known as the No. 1 overall pick who didn't sign, Aiken refused to take a signing cut a year ago from the Houston Astros after concerns over his elbow.

In the interim, the power-lefty has been in a post-graduate program at IMG Academy, where he left his first start after 13 pitches to undergo Tommy John Surgery six days later.

But despite the injury, Aiken sat comfortably at 91 miles per hour consistently in high school, tumbling a 79 miles per hour curveball. He's also gotten bigger and stronger, adding bite to his off-speed and honing an already devastating changeup.

Aiken has a habit of throwing across his body with a smooth delivery, while tipping his sharp 1-7 breaking ball.

Highlights

(Courtesy: MLB.com)