Archie Bradley

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #4 prospect in 2016
  Bradley signed for $5 million as the seventh overall pick in 2011 and made his big league debut on April 11, 2015, tossing six scoreless innings to beat the Dodgers. Early in his fourth outing he was struck in the face with a 115 mph line drive off the bat of the Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez and narrowly escaped serious injury. He later developed shoulder tendinitis that shut him down in early June. He made just six minor league starts after that and did not receive a September callup, pitching in instructional league instead. Bradley's fastball sat 92-95 mph and touched 96 in instructional league after sitting at 93 in the majors. He hides his heater well, and the pitch gets on batters quickly. His best secondary pitch is an above-average, low-80s power curveball. Scouts haven't seen improvement in his firm, mid-80s changeup, and he plans to focus on its development in 2016. The below-average 88-91 mph cutter that Bradley developed in 2014 was shelved during the season, but he started working on it again in instructs. He still struggles to command his pitches but worked on simplifying his delivery late in 2015 in order to better repeat it. Because he leans so heavily on two pitches and struggles with command, Bradley may move to the bullpen. His spring performance will determining his 2016 role.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #1 prospect in 2015
  The Diamondbacks drafted Bradley No. 7 overall in 2011, compensation for not signing Barret Loux the previous year. Arizona paid a $5 million bonus to keep the multi-sport athlete from heading to Oklahoma to play football for the Sooners. After just two Rookie-league appearances in 2011, Bradley went right to low Class A South Bend in 2012 and shot through the system, ranking as one of the game's top pitching prospects. His 2014 was a disappointment for all involved, however. Bradley came to big league camp in 2014 with a shot at making the big league rotation and pitched well in his first few spring-training outings. He accompanied the team in its season opening trip to Australia, pitching in one of the exhibition games prior to the official series against the Dodgers. After struggling in his last two spring starts, Bradley was assigned to Triple-A Reno to begin the regular season, a point of contention with his agent, who accused Arizona of holding Bradley back for service time considerations. After five starts with Reno, Bradley was diagnosed with a mild flexor strain in his right elbow and the organization shut him down until June. After rehabbing at the team's training facility and pitching in one Rookie level Arizona League game, Bradley was assigned to Double-A Mobile to get him into a better pitcher's park for the remainder of the season. His fastball velocity was down and curveball not as sharp, which some observers attributed to the early start to his season and the push to make the rotation. Bradley then got in extra work with a post-season assignment to the Arizona Fall League. Bradley's AFL performance was encouraging, with much of his fastball velocity returning. His heater, which during the regular season was 91-93 mph, sat 92-95 and touched 97. The low-80s curveball, previously a plus pitch, lacked depth in part because of a lower arm slot, but showed more break and flashed above-average in the AFL. He used his changeup more frequently while he was learning to pitch without his best fastball and curve, and it's an average pitch in the upper 80s with armside sink. Most importantly, Bradley added an 88-91 mph slider that plays off his fastball, changing the look for hitters facing him. It projects to be an above-average pitch and one that he can use to get swings and misses. Bradley's high three-quarters arm slot gets the ball over his front side and allows him to pound the fastball down in the zone. His command suffers when he's inconsistent with his delivery and his front side flies open, but he projects to be able to repeat the delivery due to his athleticism. Some evaluators now see Bradley as a future No. 3 starter, with the proviso that improved command will get him back to the original projection of a frontline starter. The Diamondbacks will be cautious with Bradley in spring training and, despite the organization's need for starting pitchers, may start him back at Double-A. If all goes well, he'll make his major league debut at some point in 2015.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #1 prospect in 2014
  Bradley arrived as Arizona's reward for failing to sign 2010 sixth overall pick Barret Loux. The Diamondbacks received the seventh pick in 2011 as compensation, selecting Bradley after taking Trevor Bauer third overall. It's the highest pair of picks by one team in draft history. The Diamondbacks offered a $5 million bonus just before the signing deadline to lure Bradley away from Oklahoma, where he would have played quarterback. He was one of two premium Oklahoma prep products in the 2011 draft, pairing with Dylan Bundy, whom Bradley beat in the state playoffs to conclude their senior seasons. After spending his first full year at low Class A South Bend, Bradley began the 2013 season with five dominating starts at high Class A Visalia before moving up to Double-A Mobile, where he helped lead the BayBears to a third consecutive trip to the Southern League finals. Bradley's combined 1.84 ERA ranked third in minors, and he placed fifth with 162 strikeouts. He even started a combined no-hitter against Huntsville on Aug. 14 with five innings, though he walked five and needed help from five relievers. Bradley ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the SL, behind only the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig. With a solid, fairly athletic 6-foot-4 body and an electric arm, Bradley has the potential to be a frontline starter. The key to his repertoire is the overpowering, plus-plus fastball that he throws at 93-94 mph and up to 97 with good downhill plane and tailing life. Bradley's curveball gives him another plus pitch. His changeup is a slightly above-average pitch that he hasn't used enough to develop fully, though it could also be a plus pitch in time. Bradley throws with some effort, with an arm recoil to conclude his follow-through. He repeated his delivery more consistently in 2013, helping lower his walk rate from 5.6 to 4.1 per nine innings. That's still high for a starter, but the improvement encouraged the Diamondbacks, who believe maturity was a key to his improvement. He keeps the ball in the ballpark, allowing six homers in 26 starts. The Diamondbacks might have brought Bradley to the big leagues had they remained in playoff contention, but because he does not yet have to be added to the 40-man roster he stayed in Mobile. The 2013 big league staff underachieved at times, and general manager Kevin Towers has indicated an interest in adding another starting pitcher. After an invitation to big league camp, Bradley will likely start the season at Triple-A Reno, a challenging assignment for any 21-year-old. A slow start or injury to a big league starter likely will result in his big league debut at some point in 2014.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #3 prospect in 2013
  When the Diamondbacks failed to sign No. 6 overall selection Barrett Loux in 2010, they got the seventh choice in 2011 as compensation. That pick became Bradley, who turned down the chance to play quarterback at Oklahoma for a $5 million bonus. After pitching two innings in his first pro summer, he jumped to low Class A South Bend in 2012, ranking as the Midwest League's top pitching prospect while leading the circuit in opponent batting average (.181) but also in walks (84). Arizona has three potential No. 1 starters in the system, and Bradley has the most electric arm. His fastball ranges from 93-98 mph, though he doesn't always command it well because a high leg kick can throw off his mechanics. At least when he misses, he misses down in the strike zone. Bradley's above-average 12-to-6 curveball gives him a second swing-and-miss pitch, and he's developing feel for an average changeup with nice sink. He has the athleticism and easy delivery to develop solid control, as well as a strong build for durability. He made significant strides with his command during instructional league, so he could really take off in 2013. With a deep pool of pitching prospects ahead of him, the Diamondbacks won't have to rush Bradley, who will spend all or most of the year at high Class A Visalia.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #2 prospect in 2012
  The Diamondbacks received the No. 7 overall choice in the 2011 draft for failing to sign 2010 first-rounder Barret Loux. Instead of going conservative with an unprotected pick, they went for Bradley, who had extra leverage as an Oklahoma quarterback recruit. He beat Owasso, then the nation's top-ranked team, in the Oklahoma state 6-A championship game with a 14-strikeout, two-hit shutout while hitting 101 mph on the scoreboard radar gun. He signed at the Aug. 15 deadline for $5 million, a franchise record for a drafted pitcher. Bradley was the talk of Arizona's instructional league camp, with scouts from other organizations using terms such as "spectacular" and "the real deal." Bradley usually throws his fastball at 92-98 mph, operating on an excellent downhill plane and with heavy life. His power curveball, which arrives at 82-85 mph, can be just as overpowering. He's still developing a changeup after not needing one in high school, but it projects to be at least an average pitch. He's athletic and repeats his clean delivery well. Like fellow 2011 first-rounder Trevor Bauer, Bradley has No. 1-starter potential and should move quickly through the minors. After making two brief appearances last September, he'll get his first real taste of pro ball at low Class A South Bend to start 2012.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #10 prospect in 2014
  On the heels of a dominant run through the SL in 2013, Bradley entered this season ranked as the top pitching prospect in baseball not named Masahiro Tanaka. Following a rocky five-start run at Triple-A Reno to open the year, Bradley hit the disabled list with a flexor strain in his right elbow and lost nearly two months. In the midst of his down time, Diamondbacks consultant Dave Duncan criticized Bradley's control and pitch repertoire in a radio interview. Arizona demoted Bradley back to Mobile when he returned to action in late June, and scouts who saw the righthander both this season and last said he rarely looked like the same pitcher. Perhaps shaken by the first injury of his career or the public flogging by Duncan (or both), his velocity dropped a few ticks to 91-93 mph--with a max near 95--and his power curveball lacked the same depth--but still flashed plus--in part because of a lower arm slot that left him on the side of the ball rather than on top. Bradley said that, while rehabbing, his delivery began to speed up on him, and that he tried to master a two-seam fastball and changeup to broaden his repertoire, changes that tended to make him less aggressive upon his return. If he can recover the swagger and the stuff that made him a potential ace in 2013, then Bradley still has a high ceiling
• 
  Ranked Southern League #2 prospect in 2013
  The seventh pick in a 2011 draft embarrassingly rich with high school pitching talent, Bradley ought to be the third arm to the big leagues following the Orioles? Dylan Bundy and the Marlins? Jose Fernandez. Bradley fits the profile of impact righthanded starter to a T with a sturdy 6-foot-4 frame, mid-90s heat, a power breaking ball and take-charge attitude on the mound. Most scouts see him as a strong No. 2 starter on a championship club, but ace status is not out of the question. Following a five-start tune-up in the Cal League, Bradley shined brightly in his Double-A debut, ranking third in the minor league ERA race (1.84) and fifth with 162 strikeouts. Bradley pitches at 93-94 mph and touches 97 when he needs it, throwing his double-plus fastball with down plane and natural tailing life. Bradley?s sharp-breaking 78-82 mph curveball shows true 12-to-6 bite most of the time, though his firm mid-80s changeup will require additional refinement, which is not at all atypical for a young power righty. Bradley throws with some effort and recoils his arm after releasing the ball, so he occasionally comes out of his delivery and misses the zone, which led to an elevated walk rate (4.3 per nine innings) moreso than problems with the longball (five in 21 starts).
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  Ranked Midwest League #4 prospect in 2012
  If the Diamondbacks hadn't paid Bradley $5 million, he'd have spent this fall understudying as a quarterback at the University of Oklahoma. His athleticism and arm strength were apparent in the MWL, as was the fact that he hadn't devoted all his energy to baseball in the past. He led the league in opponent average (.181) as well as walks (84). Bradley's lively fastball sits at 93-94 mph and ranges from 91-96, though his command of it is erratic because his high leg kick can throw his delivery off balance. When he locates his heater to both sides of the plate, his sharp 12-to-6 curveball racks up strikeouts. He'll also flash an average changeup with sink and a tough 10 mph differential from his fastball. "The only other guy I've given that high a grade to in that league is Jarrod Parker," the NL scout said. "Stuff-wise, in that league at the same age, they're on par. I know he had a lot of walks, but his misses were three inches below the knees. I like his athleticism and how he creates really good angle with his fastball."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #25 prospect in 2015
• Ranked Baseball America's #9 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #25 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #25 prospect in 2012

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: When the Diamondbacks failed to sign No. 6 overall selection Barrett Loux in 2010, they got the seventh choice in 2011 as compensation. That pick became Bradley, who turned down the chance to play quarterback at Oklahoma for a $5 million bonus. After pitching two innings in his first pro summer, he jumped to low Class A South Bend in 2012, ranking as the Midwest League's top pitching prospect while leading in opponent average (.181), but also in walks (84). Scouting Report: Arizona has a pair of potential No. 1 starters in the system, and Bradley has the most electric arm. His fastball ranges from 93-98 mph, though he doesn't always command it well because a high leg kick can throw off his mechanics. At least when he misses, he misses down in the strike zone. Bradley's above-average 12-to-6 curveball gives him a second swing-and-miss pitch, and he's developing feel for an average changeup with nice sink. He has the athleticism and easy delivery to develop solid control, as well as a strong build for durability. The Future: Bradley made significant strides with his command in instructional league, so he could take off in 2013. With a deep pool of pitching prospects ahead of him, Arizona won't have to rush Bradley, who will spend all or most of the year at high Class A Visalia.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Diamondbacks received the No. 7 overall choice in the 2011 draft for failing to sign 2010 first-rounder Barret Loux. Instead of going conservative with an unprotected pick, they went for Bradley, who had extra leverage as an Oklahoma quarterback recruit. He beat Owasso, then the nation's top-ranked team, in the Oklahoma state 6-A championship game with a 14-strikeout, two-hit shutout while hitting 101 mph on the scoreboard radar gun. He signed at the Aug. 15 deadline for $5 million, a franchise record for a drafted pitcher. Scouting Report: Bradley was the talk of Arizona's instructional league camp, with scouts from other organizations using terms such as "spectacular" and "the real deal." Bradley's usually throws his fastball at 92-98 mph, operating on an excellent downhill plate and with heavy life. His power curveball, which arrives at 82-85 mph, can be just as overpowering. He's still developing a changeup after not needing one in high school, but it projects to be at least an average pitch. He's athletic and repeats his clean delivery well. The Future: Like fellow 2011 first-rounder Trevor Bauer, Bradley has No. 1-starter potential and should move quickly through the minors. After making two brief appearances last September, he'll get his first real taste of pro ball at low Class A South Bend to start 2012.