Archie Bradley -- RHP – Arizona Diamondbacks

Height: 6'4" Weight: 225 lbs. -- Hits: Right Throws: Right

2013 Stats (A & AA) – 14-5, 1.84 ERA, 152 Innings, 162 K's, 1.21 WHIP

 

Scouting Report 

Archie Bradley is a big, husky southern boy that looks like the prototype of what a frontline starting pitcher should look like. The Diamondbacks actually bought him out of a scholarship to Oklahoma where he would have played Quarterback for the Sooners. Despite the mound presence he doesn’t throw exceptionally hard as his fastball regularly clocks in at around 93 MPH. But what makes the pitch so effective is its downward bite and tailing life that makes it difficult for hitters to center. Bradley also offers a plus curveball which takes a 12-6 shape and can be thrown at varying speeds. The Diamondbacks have been working with him on his changeup which he had little faith in early in 2013. The biggest issue facing Bradley is his command. Because his fastball has so much life, he loses control of it quite easily. In watching plenty of video on Bradley I believe this is directly tied into his release point. It is all over the place and when you see his follow through no two are the same. There is also more strain on his elbow than I would like to see. If Bradley can find an arm-slot that works for him and fine tune some other deliver issues he could be dominant. But the swings and misses out of the zone at the minor league level will pad an already upsetting 4.7 BB/9 rate.

2014 Analysis

The Diamondbacks have some decent young starters but nobody with the upside of Archie Bradley. He will compete for a rotation spot with the big league club in spring training. Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers is adamant that the team will take the five best starters to Arizona regardless of contract status. The team appears ready to hand the keys to Bradley as soon as he demonstrates that he is ready to make that leap. In the meantime the club signed free agent Bronson Arroyo to compete with Bradley, Wade Miley, Randall Delgado, Patrick Corbin, Trevor Cahill and Brandon McCarthy this spring. The key for Bradley is lowering his walks and finding consistency with his fastball and a better feel for his changeup. He is moving up the rungs quickly but it is still quite unlikely that he breaks with the Diamondback in March. At some point in 2014 we will end up seeing the major league debut of Archie Bradley.

Compare To

Kerry Wood Very similar repertoire and style including a devastating curveball and lack of a feel for fastball movement.

 

Justin Verlander Everyone compares Bradley to Verlander and the similarities are striking. Despite similar attributes there are definitely different styles between the two.

 

Current ADP

Currently Ranked as the 117th Starting Pitcher In The Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide

ADP of 303.23 Overall in the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC)

Drafted in the 24th round (306th overall) in the  2014 F.S.T.A. Experts Draft 

 

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