The Indians made a big splash in the 2015 MLB Draft by selecting the former 2014 #1 overall pick Brady Aiken with their first round (#17) pick. Last year Aiken became the first #1 overall pick not to sign since Tim Belcher in 1983. Concerns arose over the health of his elbow and it was rumored that it was used against him during signing bonus negotiations. Aiken ultimately felt that opting not to sign was the best move for him and enrolled in IMG Academy, a private athletic training institute devoted to preparing young athletes. Aiken experienced discomfort in his elbow in his first start at IMG and in March he underwent Tommy John surgery.
Going into last year’s draft Aiken was the consensus #1 pick, a can’t miss talent who had superstar potential. Aiken, who stands 6’4″, has three plus pitches, including a fastball that sits in the mid-90s, his greatest strength is his control and he is often compared to Clayton Kershaw. Had it not been for the recent Tommy John surgery he may have gone #1 again this season. The Indians are taking a bit of a risk in selecting an injured player, but a risk that has the potential to pay off in a big way. The Indians do not have a lot of high-ceiling pitching prospects right now and with this addition, Aiken has to be considered one of, if not the best pitching prospect in the organization. In my less than professional opinion (although I did suggest this pick in my recent Minor League Report), I think this is a great selection. Aiken has the potential to be an ace and it’s not often you have the opportunity to add a top of the rotation starter with the 17th overall pick in the draft. Yes, there is a concern about the health of his elbow, but with the increased frequency in which players are successfully returning from Tommy John surgery I think this is a good risk to take.
With the 42 pick in the draft the Indians drafted Triston McKenzie, a right-handed pitcher out of Royal Palm Beach High School in Florida. McKenzie is a beanpole in every sense of the word, standing at 6’5″ 165 pounds. McKenzie has a plus fastball that sits in the low 90’s and figures to increase as he naturally fills out. McKenzie has consistent mechanics that will provided a strong foundation for him to build off as he develops his other pitches. He is verbally committed to Vanderbilt so the Indians will again have to persuade a high school pitcher to skip Vanderbilt like they did last year with Justus Sheffield.
With the 59th pick in the draft the Indians selected Juan Hillman from Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida. The Indians’ early-round focus is clearly aimed at filling the pitching void in the organization. Hillman, a 6’2 lefty with good control and three above average pitches, including a fastball that sits in the low-90’s. Former MLB great Tom Gordon, whose son Nick Gordon was drafted 5th overall by the Twins in 2014, is Hillman’s legal guardian, therefore he has to be good, right?
The Indians seemed to be buying into the theory of drafting young talented pitchers so that they can closely control their development as they move through the system. Drafting three high school pitchers fits the needs of a farm system that is lacking many talented arms. It will be interesting to see what the Indians’ strategy for the remaining rounds will be and whether they can find the hidden gems that are discovered in the depths of the later rounds every year.
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