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." Nathaniel Clyne Jersey . 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The 36-year-old Colts receiver is going back to the playoffs as a division champion. UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Sidney Crosby went through a cluster of New York Islanders like they werent even there. With the puck on his stick in overtime, all he saw was the net. And then he hit it. Crosby, who scored the tying goal in the third period, netted the winner with a brilliant individual effort 3:44 into overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Tuesday night. He stole the puck from Thomas Vanek just outside the New York blue line, streaked down the middle between two defenceman and jammed a backhander past Anders Nilsson for his 15th goal. "The puck just came to me, and I found a way," Crosby said. "I had some time to wind up and get some speed. It was a good situation. "I didnt notice how many guys were hanging on me. I just went for the net." Simple enough for Sid the Kid, who had made it 2-all with 12:00 left in regulation by firing in a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Evgeni Malkin. Nilsson was the hard-luck loser in overtime for the second straight game. New York, which has dropped seven straight (0-5-2), gave up the lead late to Washington on Saturday and was beaten in overtime on a goal by Alex Ovechkin. "Every goal you let in is frustrating," said Nilsson, who made 31 saves in his seventh NHL game. "I thought I should have had the winner from Ovi and I should have the winner tonight." Malkin assisted on power-play goals by James Neal and Crosby to back Marc-Andre Fleury, who made 21 saves. His best stop came on Frans Nielsens penalty shot in the third when New York led 2-1. If a standard penalty was called instead of a penalty shot, it would have wiped out the rest of the Penguins power play that produced the tying goal. "That definitely might have changed things," Crosby said. Kyle Okposo scored twice in the first period for the Islanders, who are third from the bottom in the East. Despite the gap in the standings, the Islanders play the Penguins much tighter on the ice. The teams have split two games in Pittsburgh this season, following the Penguins six-game, first-round playoff triumph over New York last spring. "The rivalry is real," Fleury said. "They play us close and really make us work. They are a good team against us just about every time we play them." The Penguins (19-9-1) moved one point ahead of iidle Boston atop the Eastern Conference with their fourth straight win, and completed a 3-0 road trip.dddddddddddd Pittsburghs potent power play, ranked No. 1 in the NHL, got the Penguins back in the game. Neal connected in the final seconds of the second period, and Crosby tied it in the third. Nilsson held off the Penguins long enough for New York to salvage a point in the standings. John Tavares assisted on both of Okposos goals. "I thought we played very well," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "We really needed that third one and didnt get it. Its very hard for us to win with two goals. "It came down to special teams again. My frustration is the same as what the players are feeling because weve all been there." Okposo hadnt scored in eight games but he broke out with two during a 4:35 span of the first and nearly netted a third before the intermission. He backhanded a shot from the bottom of the left circle into the crease. The puck and Tavares, along with Crosby and Kris Letang of the Penguins all arrived on Fleurys doorstep at the same time. It found its way in off of Letang to make it 1-0 with 7:05 left. Okposo got even more help on his second goal, which was his eighth of the season. He wound up from above the right circle and ripped a drive that struck Fleury and then squeezed under his left arm before trickling behind him with 2:30 to go. Pittsburgh had a chance to cut into its deficit late in the frame when Vanek and Aaron Ness took penalties 1:17 apart, giving the Penguins a two-man advantage that lasted the final 37.3 seconds of the first period and 5 seconds of the second. What Pittsburgh couldnt do in the first, it did in the second when Neal notched a power-play goal with 15.6 seconds left off a feed in front from Malkin, who extended his point and assist streaks to nine games. He has 15 assists and 19 points during the run, earning star of the week and month honours in the NHL. Neal scored his ninth goal of the season and seventh in six games to make it 2-1. He has 17 points (9 goals, 8 assists) in the last 13 games. NOTES: Malkin had league-best 25 points and 21 assists in November, the most assists in a month since Wayne Gretzky also had 21 in January 1996. ... The Islanders hadnt scored first in seven games and hadnt held a two-goal lead since a 3-2 loss to Los Angeles on Nov. 14. ' ' '