J.R. Bradley
| IP | 478 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.008 |
| WHIP | 1.527 |
| BB/9 | 3.502 |
| SO/9 | 7.061 |
- Full name James Ray Bradley
- Born 06/09/1992 in South Charleston, WV
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Nitro
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Drafted in the 2nd round (56th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010 (signed for $643,500).
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West Virginia's Jedd Gyorko isn't the only player generating interest in the Mountain State this season. Bradley, a prep righthander from outside Charleston, was also coming on strong. A lanky, projectable righthander at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, his fastball ranges from 88-92 mph, but sits at 89-90 and he can touch 93-94 a couple of times in a game. His secondary stuff is raw, but he has shown flashes that the pitches could be average. He has outstanding control for a high school arm. He reportedly has walked just two batters in the last two seasons. Bradley has drawn comparisons to another 2010 righty in Keenan Kish. Bradley offers more projection, but less polish than Kish. He is committed to North Carolina State but figures to be signable. Scouts can't reach a consensus on where Bradley will get drafted, but considering his projection and signability there is little chance he lasts past the fifth round.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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One of just five West Virginia high school players ever selected in the first two rounds of the draft, Bradley has shown his inexperience and lack of pitchability since signing for $643,500 in 2010. Despite his uneven pro debut, the Diamondbacks assigned him to low Class A at age 18 last year, and he continued to lack consistency. Bradley projects to have an average fastball and currently pitches at 88-92 mph on a downhill plane with nice sink. He developed a changeup last year that could eventually become his best pitch. He throws both a curveball and slider, but neither is special and they often morph into an ineffective slurve. Bradley throws strikes but doesn't always command his stuff, getting into trouble when he elevates his fastball. He has an athletic frame that could put on more weight, which would give his fastball more velocity. Bradley looked like no more than a No. 4 starter last season, but he'll still be just 19 when the 2012 season begins. He may repeat low Class A in an attempt to find him some success. -
The Diamondbacks stocked up on projectable righthanders early in the 2010 draft, starting with Bradley. He passed on a scholarship to North Carolina State and signed for a $643,500 bonus. Bradley's debut with Missoula was uneven, and his velocity fell off as the season progressed. His two-seam fastball sits at 92-93 mph when he's at his best, and he throws it with a fluid, easy delivery. He projects to gain velocity as he adds weight to his tall, slender frame. His secondary pitches are only rudimentary right now, and he lacks much feel for pitching, though he shows a knack for throwing strikes. At times he relied too much on his curveball and slider instead of working on his fastball and changeup. Bradley will be a bit of a project, but he's a hard worker who enjoys playing the game and wants to succeed. He likely won't be ready for a full season assignment in 2011 and will start the year in extended spring training.
