Brady Aiken's 1st Start Cut Short

[Jaypers]

@johnmanuelba: Text from a scout in Florida to see Brady Aiken says the 2014 No. 1 pick just left his start for @IMGAcademy with 2 outs in the 1st. No indication of why Aiken was removed, but rumors that he's not 100% right physically have persisted all spring.

Maybe the Astros were onto something....

[preakness]

Pitch count

[Keyser Soze]

Pitch count

Gotta make sure he doesn't tear that dental floss UCL.

[blackandgold]

Scouts who were there today report Aiken's velocity topped in 92-93 mph range. Velo on last pitch, curveball, dipped to 72 #mlbdraft Per John Manuel BA

[mwash1983]

John Manuel ‏@johnmanuelba 1m1 minute ago
Scouts who were there today report Aiken's velocity topped in 92-93 mph range. Velo on last pitch, curveball, dipped to 72 #mlbdraft

Pop goes the UCL, that's what happened to Taylor Guerrieri

[sigmachi]

I hate that for him but I guess the Astros were right on their assessment

[speedyjg13]

I hate that for him but I guess the Astros were right on their assessment

I missed it, what was their assesment? I thought he didnt sign because he wanted more money.

[Jaypers]

I missed it, what was their assesment? I thought he didnt sign because he wanted more money.

Their medical evaluation revealed some elbow damage; Aiken's agent vehemently denied it. The Astros withdrew their initial offer and offered less, he turned it down.

[awz50]

Im guessing 3rd round next year

[VWBUS1978]

Their medical evaluation revealed some elbow damage; Aiken's agent vehemently denied it. The Astros withdrew their initial offer and offered less, he turned it down.

I wish the kid all the luck.

That in mind, anyone who turns down guaranteed money regardless of a lower offer is foolish.

[mainerunr]

I missed it, what was their assesment? I thought he didnt sign because he wanted more money.

They rescinded their offer and came back much lower. And by not signing him, they cost themselves two other high school pitchers who wanted far more than slot value (that they would have had even with their initial offer to Aiken) who both went to college instead of signing.

They never disclosed what they saw and likely could not due to HIPAA rules.

[Jaypers]

Josh Norris ‏@jnorris427
So, after getting shut out of interviews from the IMG side, I talked to a few people on the Ontario side who said Aiken had looked good. Then, after leaving a breaking ball up, he called for his catcher and manager and the the trainer joined. He was in obvious discomfort. Caught the HP umpire coming out of the locker room. He was in on the meeting and said Aiken told his manager it was "tightness" in his arm. IMG, through its head of media, said they had no official statement at this time and didn't wish to speculate.

[mwash1983]

Welp we got ourselves the 2010's Matt Harrington if his Elbow is shot, should have taken the 5 million.

[trixstar]

Few tweets from @jnorris427 Assistant Editor at Baseball America.

@jnorris427 · 32m 32 minutes ago

Got to IMG Academy with two outs in the ninth. Will try to talk to manager/Aiken about what happened tonight. Stay tuned.

@jnorris427 · 13m 13 minutes ago

So, after getting shut out of interviews from the IMG side, I talked to a few people on the Ontario side who said Aiken had looked good ...

@jnorris427 · 12m 12 minutes ago

Then, after leaving a breaking ball up, he called for his catcher and manager and the the trainer joined. He was in obvious discomfort. ...

@jnorris427 · 10m 10 minutes ago

Caught the HP umpire coming out of the locker room. He was in on the meeting and said Aiken told his manager it was "tightness" in his arm.

@jnorris427 · 9m 9 minutes ago

IMG, through its head of media, said they had no official statement at this time and didn't wish to speculate.

[Jaypers]

Two posts up, Trix.

[MeetJSquared]

Sad to hear. I thought he should've taken the money. He's a local guy so I was rooting for him, but at this point he has to start all over. Could've had a good chunk of change, and rehab with the Astros when the inevitable TJ surgery was required.

[chris_ac]

If official word comes out of an actual injury that's serious, his psyche will take a double whammy with not taking the Stros money out of principle and hearing them in his head saying I told you so about his arm scan issues.

[anusinha]

hope he bought an insurance policy. if not, hope he likes flipping burgers.

[oldgoldy97]

hope he bought an insurance policy. if not, hope he likes flipping burgers.

Better learn to flip with his right arm.

[Redsmitty03]

Never wish any harm to the young man, but not taking the "lower", 5 million dollar offer was foolish. Looks like the Astros may be justified in their "standoff" with Aiken. Unfortunately, it did cost them the signing of the other two guys as well. The Astros took some heat on this, but they were just doing what any business would do....making smart, business-driven decisions.

[SDcardguy24]

ugh hate this was really rooting hard for him

[PejaD]

(Fore)arm tightness forcing one out of a game doesn't sound good.

I thought it was strange he did not go to a traditional powerhouse JuCo, and instead chose to play for a prep school essentially run by his representation. I guess even they couldn't prevent his injury...

[bear0555]

Their medical evaluation revealed some elbow damage; Aiken's agent vehemently denied it. The Astros withdrew their initial offer and offered less, he turned it down.

I recall it being an "abnormality" in his elbow, rather than anything injury related.

[Twinsfan33]

So if this is a real concern, how far does he fall in the draft? 3rd round? 4th round?

[SDcardguy24]

I recall it being an "abnormality" in his elbow, rather than anything injury related.

small UCL right?

[metsplaya123]

So if this is a real concern, how far does he fall in the draft? 3rd round? 4th round?
Why? Hoffman went 9 overall and giolito went 15 overall. Both injured

The right way to draft now a days is to take a guy that has/is already having thommy john surgery.

If you are taking a young power pitcher with a top pick then you are a fool because he will get thommy john. It is inevitable

[ctbinvestments]

I've said all along he was an idiot to pass on the 5 million bonus offer. Regardless of the outcome of his "tightness" today, he's never going to see a bonus offer like that again even if he pitched the rest of this season for IMG. Sad that an 18 yr old kid let his slimball "advisor" talk him into thinking he was getting hosed if he signed for 5 million.

[PejaD]

The concern with Aiken is not that there was damage to his UCL. The Astros concern was that successful TJ surgery would be less likely than others since he had an abnormally shaped UCL.

I wonder if he took out one of those high premium insurance policies with Lloyd's that would guarantee him becoming a millionaire in case his elbow blows out before the draft.

[bear0555]

small UCL right?

i dunno. no clue what that even meant.

[Twinsfan33]

Why? Hoffman went 9 overall and giolito went 15 overall. Both injured

The right way to draft now a days is to take a guy that has/is already having thommy john surgery.

If you are taking a young power pitcher with a top pick then you are a fool because he will get thommy john. It is inevitable

I mean hey, if he falls to the Twins at 6 I'd be pretty happy :D

[SDcardguy24]

i dunno. no clue what that even meant.

"Subsequent leaks from yet-unnamed sources claimed that Aiken's MRI revealed an "abnormally small" Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his pitching arm."

[metsplaya123]

Get the surgery now because he will be getting it in less than a year

It is inevitable

When will they realize this?

[Wrightfan85]

"Subsequent leaks from yet-unnamed sources claimed that Aiken's MRI revealed an "abnormally small" Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his pitching arm."

Time to learn the knuckleball ;)

[VeedonFleece]

I'm still hoping for the best despite the negative vibes coming from all of the amateur physicians on here.

[NeedChapmans]

I'm still hoping for the best despite the negative vibes coming from all of the amateur physicians on here.

I don't think it's the physicians part that has people chiming in ... I think it's the fact that Aiken turned down a chance that most everyone on here would sign in a heartbeat; and now it appears (at least the chance) he made have screwed himself big-time. Somewhat natural human emotion here to "root against" the kid that spurns the opportunity.

Whomever (if anyone) told Aiken to pass ... shame on them.

[VeedonFleece]

I don't think it's the physicians part that has people chiming in ... I think it's the fact that Aiken turned down a chance that most everyone on here would sign in a heartbeat; and now it appears (at least the chance) he made have screwed himself big-time. Somewhat natural human emotion here to "root against" the kid that spurns the opportunity.

Whomever (if anyone) told Aiken to pass ... shame on them.

Of course I agree that he was ill-advised to turn down 5 million, but that was after Houston lowballed him with an offer of 3. People said Scherzer was crazy to turn down 6/144 but that now looks an inspired decision. I realize there's a difference between FA contracts and that of a draftee seeking his first deal but I have sympathy with Aiken's decision.

[NeedChapmans]

Of course I agree that he was ill-advised to turn down 5 million, but that was after Houston lowballed him with an offer of 3. People said Scherzer was crazy to turn down 6/144 but that now looks an inspired decision. I realize there's a difference between FA contracts and that of a draftee seeking his first deal but I have sympathy with Aiken's decision.

The initial re-offer was $3.1M, but the last offer was for $5M ($1.5M lower than the first offer of $6.5). It's a reasonable progression for a team that just found out their top pick isn't all put together (I would say).

I remember when this first happened, I wrote an essay on here about how terrible it feels to be on Aiken's end, when you come to terms of a big $$ deal, only to have the buyer re-negotiate the terms at the 11th hour. Makes you sick, you feel taken, you feel terrible and I've experienced it first hand. But at the end of the day, Aiken could have signed the contract, and if he believed in himself, could have pitched his way to a much much much bigger contract 5 years down the road. He turned down $5M, for the chance to make what?

This is shaping up to be a very sad story, that I hope other high profile young athletes look at.

[ctbinvestments]

The initial re-offer was $3.1M, but the last offer was for $5M ($1.5M lower than the first offer of $6.5). It's a reasonable progression for a team that just found out their top pick isn't all put together (I would say).

I remember when this first happened, I wrote an essay on here about how terrible it feels to be on Aiken's end, when you come to terms of a big $$ deal, only to have the buyer re-negotiate the terms at the 11th hour. Makes you sick, you feel taken, you feel terrible and I've experienced it first hand. But at the end of the day, Aiken could have signed the contract, and if he believed in himself, could have pitched his way to a much much much bigger contract 5 years down the road. He turned down $5M, for the chance to make what?

This is shaping up to be a very sad story, that I hope other high profile young athletes look at.

I don't think it's the physicians part that has people chiming in ... I think it's the fact that Aiken turned down a chance that most everyone on here would sign in a heartbeat; and now it appears (at least the chance) he made have screwed himself big-time. Somewhat natural human emotion here to "root against" the kid that spurns the opportunity.

Whomever (if anyone) told Aiken to pass ... shame on them.

Couldn't have said it better especially that your post highlighted hopefully the next high profile athlete doesn't walk for $1-2 million difference just to sign his name and put themselves in the same situation. I don't want to seem like a hater but Aiken had his chance to get $5 million bonus (then a salary) and he decided to decline. If it ends up bad for him then oh well.

[xbignick]

Video:

/watch?v=AjKvBXEMg2k

[VeedonFleece]

Thanks for posting the video. At least his arm doesn't look like it's hanging off. I'm still hopeful!

[xbignick]

Anyone see any news? Got an offer for the only card I own of him yesterday and another just now that ended in a deal, so assumed there was good news but can't find anything.

[Jaypers]

Anyone see any news? Got an offer for the only card I own of him yesterday and another just now that ended in a deal, so assumed there was good news but can't find anything.

Might be good news.


keithlaw ‏@keithlaw
Nothing official. Might make his next scheduled start. RT @mikeaxisa: @keithlaw Has there been an update on Aiken?