Former Unsigned No.1 Draft Pick Brady Aiken Underwent Tommy John Surgery

Left-hander Brady Aiken, who was selected as the number one overall pick in 2014 by the Houston Astros but did not sign, announced that he had undergone Tommy John elbow surgery on Thursday.

"I'm obviously extremely disappointed," Aiken wrote in an essay titled "A Fresh Start," published on The Player's Tribune. "I wanted to let my pitching speak for itself, but now there are going to be new distractions. For that reason, I wanted to be the one to tell people what's happened and make this a fresh start."

Dr. David Altchek performed the surgery on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old was pitching at a private training institute called IMG Academy in Florida at the time of his injury. Aiken stated that he knew something was wrong with his elbow and sought out care. The diagnosis revealed that he had torn a ligament.

"I was -- and still am -- overwhelmed with a lot of different feelings, but mostly it's disappointment. I won't be able to pitch this season, and this is going to keep me from doing what I love most of all: competing," he said.

Aiken was reportedly preparing for this year's draft after deciding not to sign with the Astros due to a contract issue.

"Since last summer, a lot of people have wondered how I could have turned down a multi-million-dollar signing bonus after being picked first in the Draft. Now, I know they'll probably be wondering about it again," Aiken wrote. "I can honestly say I don't regret not signing. It was a very difficult decision, but it also was an informed decision based on circumstances only a few people know the truth about. My family and I planned for all the possible outcomes. We weighed the pros and cons, talked with friends and mentors and doctors whose opinions we value and discussed it over a number of family dinners. This wasn't a decision we made lightly.

Aiken entered the 2014 draft as the most polished high school pitcher. Although there were early concerns surrounding his elbow, his control caught the eye of the Astros. Despite being selected first overall, Aiken chose a different route and became the first No. 1 pick to not sign since 1983 when Tim Belcher turned down the Minnesota Twins.

In his essay, Aiken stated that money was not the only deciding factor at the time. He stated that he wanted to pitch somewhere he felt "comfortable" and could establish a strong "support system."

Now, Aiken, whose surgery went well, will be focused on rehabbing his elbow. He plans on coming "back better than ever."