Archie Bradley Scouting Report

Archie Bradley has been drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and is expected to sign.

This is Part 12 in a series previewing 12 potential players for the Orioles’ #4 overall selection in the 2011 draft. The full series:

1. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice
2. Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA
3. Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia
4. Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt
5. Jed Bradley, LHP, Georgie Tech
6. Bubba Starling, OF, Gardner-Edgerton HS, Kan.
7. Francisco Lindor, SS, Montverde Academy HS, Fla.
8. Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA
9. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Owasso HS, Okl.
10. George Springer, OF, Connecticut
11. Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Spring Valley HS, S. Car.
12. Archie Bradley, RHP, Broken Arrow HS, Okl.

Archie Bradley has always been my dark horse pick for the Orioles; this kid is flat out projectable. People in baseball worry about his overall package, but no one will question his ceiling.  I had thought last year he could have been the first right handed high school pitcher to go #1 overall.  Another pitcher from the hotbed (Oklahoma) is top prospect Dylan Bundy.  The area has something in the water because both Bradley and Bundy comes from a line that has produced the likes of Brad Penny and Josh Johnson, and it would not surprise me to see his name in the same sentence ten years down the line.

School: Broken Arrow H.S. (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Throws: Right
Bats: Right
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 225
Body: Man child, long and athletic body, long legs, and long arms suggest that he may still grow.  Filled out for his age, but should easily gain another 15-20 pounds of quality weight.  Looks the part of a young Brad Penny when I watch him pitch.

Fastball

Bradley started the 2011 season slowly, sitting 91-93 mph in the early spring, but as soon as the weather warmed his fastball was 94-97 mph on a consistent basis.

What do they put in the water in Tulsa? I have a tough time saying which kid (Bundy vs. Bradley) has the better fastball when Bradley is on top of his game. Bradley brings the heat with this pitch and I have a tape that has him hitting 101 mph. He started the 2011 season slowly, sitting 91-93 mph in the early spring, but as soon as the weather warmed his fastball was 94-97 mph on a consistent basis. It is heavy out of his hand and has good down plane from a high slotted ¾ delivery.  His two-seam fastball is not as crisp as Bundy’s, but it bores nicely into the hitter in the 92-93 mph range.

Curveball

Bradley’s curve is already an “out” pitch; it’s a true hammer in the 12/6 mold that buckles hitters and simply drops off the table in a hurry.  I feel that this is his best pitch in terms of command and even better than the fastball. He does a nice job working it in throughout the zone and usually kids with this type of hammer go down the middle all of the time.  I have seen it from 80-85 mph, so at times it’s more of a power curve.  I think long term it works best in the 80-82 mph range and taking a bit more off could make this even more effective against professional hitting.

Changeup

This is where he gets separated from the top because Bradley is really a two pitch pitcher at this time.  He throws a straight change, maybe a split change, that shows some slight deception. When thrown it flashes potential, but it will have to reinforced and thrown more often for him to become a true front of the rotation arm.

Mechanics

Bradley’s loading phase is a little stretched, but there is nothing that should cause a concern.  He does not bring the ball through a complete arc, but does get full extension that points back off the mound and off to second.  There is some extra pressure, but nothing to suggest shoulder issues down the road.  As he transitions phases, his arms are below alignment with his shoulders and this places no additional stress during the delivery.

He uses his long legs to get a very good push and very forceful landing.  It does not involve the hips and rotation as much, but you clearly see the weight transfer in the lower half.  His stride is excellent and combines with a solid landing spot to create a solid inline delivery that does not cross at all.

He will get good extension with his arm, but for his size I would prefer to see a bit more follow through towards the plate.  I think this would help both his control and command long term.

Control/Command

Bradley is still a thrower and will learn to become a better pitcher as a professional.  He showcases adequate control that will get away from him when he pushes the ball through the zone.  His command is slightly below average as he is still trying to get the feel for pitching under his wing.  He is your typical high school power right handed pitcher.

Intangibles

Maybe Dylan Bundy rubs off on him and he can also turn into the workhorse power right handed pitcher that makes a general manager’s life a bit easier.  Bradley comes from a hot bed and the competition in his area is high.  He has been tested by the best in his class and comes out on top when the chips are down.  He faces pressure well and it will help with the rigors of professional baseball.  Bradley has a very high ceiling that only he will know how high it can take him.  He might not have the overall arsenal as some of the other pitchers in this draft, but not many rival the amount of potential that is in his right arm.

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This is Part 12 in a series previewing 12 potential players for the Orioles’ #4 overall selection in the 2011 draft. The full series:

1. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice
2. Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA
3. Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia
4. Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt
5. Jed Bradley, LHP, Georgie Tech
6. Bubba Starling, OF, Gardner-Edgerton HS, Kan.
7. Francisco Lindor, SS, Montverde Academy HS, Fla.
8. Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA
9. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Owasso HS, Okl.
10. George Springer, OF, Connecticut
11. Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Spring Valley HS, S. Car.
12. Archie Bradley, RHP, Broken Arrow HS, Okl.