SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The Houston Astros had the No. 1 pick again, and this time, they took a pitcher polished beyond his years. California high school left-hander Brady Aiken was the first selection in the Major League Baseball draft Thursday night. "Its the most advanced high school pitcher Ive ever seen in my entire career," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. "He has command like Ive never seen before of his stuff." The 17-year-old from San Diegos Cathedral Catholic High School is just the third prep pitcher to be selected first overall, joining fellow lefties Brien Taylor (1991, Yankees) and David Clyde (1973, Rangers). The Miami Marlins made it the first time high school pitchers were the top two picks in the draft when they selected Tyler Kolek, a hard-throwing right-hander from Shepherd High School in Texas. Twenty pitchers were taken in the first round, tying the draft record set in 2001. The Astros are the first team to select first in three consecutive drafts, having picked shortstop Carlos Correa in 2012 and right-hander Mark Appel last year. Aiken is in line to receive a huge contract. The allotted slot bonus for the top pick is nearly $8 million. "Unbelievable. Its really a dream come true," Aiken said. "This is something that Ive wanted ever since I was a young kid. Im at a loss for words. This is my dream and its finally starting to come true." Aiken is also the first high school lefty to be drafted in the first five picks since Adam Loewen went fourth overall to Baltimore in 2002. The UCLA recruit, who compared himself to Clayton Kershaw and David Price, has terrific control of a fastball that hits 96-97 mph, a knee-buckling curve and a tough changeup that sits in the low- to mid-80s. The 6-foot-5 Kolek has a fastball that sits in the high-90s and touched 100-102 mph several times, causing many to compare him to fellow Texas flamethrowers such as Nolan Ryan, Kerry Wood and Josh Beckett. "How do you pass up a guy throwing 100?" Marlins manager Mike Redmond said after Miamis 11-6 win at Tampa Bay. "So, Im happy with the pick. Its a big, old, country strong right-hander." The Chicago White Sox selected North Carolina State left-hander Carlos Rodon with the third overall pick. The 6-3, 235-pound junior was widely regarded as the top college pitcher available and had been in the mix to go No. 1 overall. He followed a dominant sophomore year with a solid but not spectacular junior season. Indiana slugger Kyle Schwarber went No. 4 overall to the Chicago Cubs as the first position player selected. He is a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award as the best catcher in Division I, although he could move to third base or the outfield in the pros. "Well let that play out," Cubs senior vice-president of scouting and player development Jason McLeod said. Nick Gordon, the son of former big league pitcher Tom Gordon and brother of Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon, went fifth overall to Minnesota. The Florida high school slick-fielding shortstop was the first of the seven prospects in attendance at MLB Network Studios to have his name called by Commissioner Bud Selig, who is retiring in January and presiding over the draft for the final time. After a few interviews, Gordon breathed a big sigh of relief and gave his father a huge hug. "This is a proud moment. Its hard to describe," Tom Gordon said. "I have nothing but pride and pure joy for my boys." Gordon, from Orlandos Olympia High School, also has some family bragging rights now: His father was a sixth-rounder by Kansas City in 1986, while his brother was a fourth-rounder by Los Angeles in 2008. "Were pretty much the same player," Nick Gordon said of the brothers. "You know, hes got a little bit more speed than I do, Ive got a little bit more pop than he does. But, you know, we model our game after each other." A few other players followed in the footsteps of famous family members. Wichita State first baseman Casey Gillaspie went 20th overall to Tampa Bay, 17 spots ahead of where his brother Conor, the White Soxs third baseman, was picked in 2008. "I cant really compare myself to him because hes in the big leagues," Casey said. "It was cool when it happened, but now Im just ready and focused." San Francisco outfielder Bradley Zimmer was taken 21st by Cleveland. His brother, Kyle, was the fifth overall pick by Kansas City in 2012. With the next pick, Detroit took California high school outfielder Derek Hill, whose father Orsino was a first-rounder in January 1982 and is now a scout for the Dodgers. California high school catcher Alex Jackson went sixth to Seattle, which intends to move him to the outfield. "Ive been playing multiple positions my whole life," Jackson said. "Its nothing extra ordinary that has been thrown my way. Im looking forward to getting out there competing." LSU righty Aaron Nola was the seventh overall selection by Philadelphia. Evansville lefty Kyle Freeland, a Colorado native, went No. 8 to the Rockies and said hes used to pitching in the thin Denver air and isnt afraid of it. East Carolina right-hander Jeff Hoffman went ninth to Toronto, which also took Kennesaw State catcher Max Pentecost two picks later. The New York Mets rounded out the top 10 picks by selecting Oregon State outfielder Michael Conforto. In the year of Tommy John surgery in baseball, two pitchers who recently had the operation were selected in the first 18 picks -- a sign that teams are confident in the success rate of the procedure. Even though theyll likely be sidelined for 12-18 months, Hoffman and UNLV righty Erick Fedde (No. 18 to Washington) remained attractive prospects. Vanderbilt righty Tyler Beede was the 14th overall pick by San Francisco, becoming the 18th player in draft history to be selected in the first round of two June drafts. He went 21st to Toronto in 2011. St. Louis wrapped up the first round of the draft, which is held over three days and 40 rounds, by selecting California high school righty Jack Flaherty at No. 34 -- seven picks after taking Florida State right-hander Luke Weaver. Gareth Morgan, from Toronto, was the first Canadian selected this year. The right-handed outfielder was drafted out of Blyth Academy by the Seattle Mariners, 74th overall. "Im honoured that the Mariners selected me and its also very special to be the first Canadian to be taken in the draft," said Morgan from his home in Toronto where he was following the draft with his family. "I have worked very hard throughout my career for this moment and Im excited for what the future holds." Alexander Wennberg Jersey . 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Five of those contests are against Eastern Conference opposition, meaning valuable points in the playoff race are on the line. NEWARK, N.J. -- Three days after being traded to the New Jersey Devils, Tuomo Ruutu had one of those storybook games against his former Carolina Hurricanes teammates. Ruutu scored with 6:30 to play to snap a tie, and the Devils earned a 5-4 victory after squandering a three-goal lead Saturday night. "We were actually taking about that, just how that works," linemate Travis Zajac said of Ruutus winner. "You get traded and somehow you come away with the winning goal. But like I said, he was on the puck all night. He played with a lot of jump." Not bad for a guy who has a lot on his mind. Not only did Ruutu have to move, he had to leave his pregnant wife in North Carolina. "This was nerve wracking, but its fun when you win," said Ruutu, who was acquired for centre Andrei Loktionov on Wednesday. "When it goes the other way, its not fun at all. We can learn from this game but the most important thing is the two points." New Jersey has won four of six games since the Olympic break, leaving the Devils two points behind Detroit for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. New Jersey has 17 games left in the regular season. "We just have to keep doing that and give ourselves a chance to stay with the pack," Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. Red-hot Adam Henrique added two more goals, and Zajac and Damien Brunner had the others as the usually defensive-minded Devils had another lax game in their own end. They have given up 11 goals in the last two games. Jeff Skinner, Jay Harrison, Nathan Gerbe and Alexander Semin scored for Carolina, which has lost seven of eight. Gerbe and Semin tallied in the third period to make it 4-4. "We did a good job of getting back in the game but unfortunately we came up short," Hurricanes defenceman Ryan Murphy said. Ruutu scored the game winner with a shot from between the circles that was set up by an outstanding play by defenceman Marek Zidlicky. Zidlicky controlled the puck and then found Ruutu coming down the middle of the ice. His shot beat goalie Cam Ward for his sixth goal of the season. "Its obviously something special to get the win," Ruutu said. "I will try to enjoy it tonight but we need some more wins." Semin had tied it 51 seconds earlier with a spin-around shot from between the circles after singlehandedly beating four Devils in the zone.dddddddddddd Gerbe had made it a one-goal game with a short-handed breakaway goal early in the period, scoring on Martin Brodeur, who made 29 saves. The Devils seemed in command after Henrique capped a big three-goal second period with his 22nd and 23rd tallies of the season for a 4-2 lead. He has nine goals in six games since the Olympic break. The Devils scored three times in 4:17 after Skinner tied the game with a shot that deflected off the elbow of New Jersey defenceman Mark Fayne at 6:21 of the second period. It was Skinners 25th of the season, but the Hurricanes didnt enjoy the moment long. Just 1:21 later, Patrick Dwyer was called for holding defenceman Bryce Salavador. The Devils then took the lead with the aid of a lucky bounce. Zidlicky missed the net with a slap shot. The puck came off the end boards at a weird angle, and Brunner gathered it low in the left circle and backhanded a shot into an open net with Anton Khudobin caught off-guard. The goal hadnt even been announced when Carolina defenceman Mike Komisarek had a puck bounce over his stick at centre ice, setting up a 2-on-none break. Ryane Clowe gave the puck to Henrique, and he easily beat Khudobin with another backhander. Henrique made it 4-1 a little more than four minutes later with a short-handed goal. Patrik Elias carried the puck into the Carolina zone and dropped a pass to Henrique, who fired a shot into the upper corner of the net, chasing Khudobin, who made a season-high 40 saves on Friday night in a loss to the Rangers. Less than 30 seconds after Henriques short-handed goal, Harrison converted on the same power play with his fourth of the season. Gerbe closed the gap to a goal with a short-handed tally early in the third period and then Semin set things up for Ruutu to be a hero. NOTES: Carolina D Justin Faulk missed his third straight game because of an upper-body injury. ... Brunners goal was his first in 12 games and 10th of the season. ... Ruutu set up Zajacs opening goal with a nice pass across the goal crease. Zajac also had two assists. ..Murphy played a game high 26:51 for Carolina. 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