Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Diamondbacks, and pitching coach Charles Nagy, are quickly building a stellar farm system in the desert. SP Archie Bradley entered the season as the team’s number two-ranked prospect, behind just Tyler Skaggs, but the young righty has continued to climb fantasy baseball prospect lists this spring.
Bradley had an unthinkable 1.26 ERA with a 2-0 record through five starts of High-A ball this season. He struck out a staggering 43 batters in just 28.2 innings of work. He was dominating opposing hitters and the fireballer earned a promotion as a result.
It has been just over a month since the transition, but Bradley is pitching just as well at the next level. He is already 5-1 through eight games in Double-A Mobile and it didn’t take him long to adjust to the level of competition. Bradley has thrown 47 more innings and has a similarly impressive 1.34 ERA in Double-A. He is even leading the entire California League with 43 K’s and has a video game-like 13.50 SO/ 9 IP ratio.
The next step is obviously Triple-A, but seeing how well he is handling the minors the team may decide to fast track him right to the majors. Most organizations are taking that approach with their young arms lately, so Bradley could be heading to Arizona before the end of 2013.
Bradley is a true power pitcher and his six-foot-four frame is extremely intimidating on the mound. He has front-of-the-rotation stuff and is making his claim to be the team’s ace in the near future. Some doubt his potential as a fantasy prospect, but I think this kid is for real.
Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.
