“When he is commanding his fastball, his stuff is dominating that league," said Mike Bell, D-backs director of minor league development Mike Bell said. "I haven’t seen anybody square him or hit him real hard. He is definitely ahead of the curve at that level.”
That being said, the D-backs have every intention of bringing Bradley along slowly, something they can afford to do with the pitching depth at every level of the organization.
“He is not going to pitch in the big leagues this year, so we can be protective,” said Bell, at the same time adding that Bradley could force his way up the minor-league chain if he continues to pitch the way he has.
Suffice it to say Bradley made the right choice when he accepted a $5 million signing bonus from the D-backs as the No. 7 overall pick last year rather than take a football/baseball scholarship at the University of Oklahoma, in his home state. Bradley is from Broken Arrow, Okla., just outside Tulsa. Bradley likely would have redshirted last football season before getting on the mound this spring.
Now, he already has 40 innings of professional experience under his belt.
The D-backs have been impressed not only by Bradley’s undeniable stuff but also with his demeanor on the mound. Those 22 walks he's issued have put him in some trouble spots, as he was in when he walked two batters and gave up a stolen base in the first inning against Fort Wayne on April 11, his second start of the season.
One of those walks came around and scored, but Bradley settled down and gave up only two hits and a walk over his final five innings, the only start in which he has gone six.
“You could tell that he didn’t feel good, but he was able to figure it out early enough," Bell said. "Some pitchers, when that happens, they just think is not going to be their day. He didn’t let it affect him. It was impressive that he was able to get over that.
“He’ll lose it for an inning ... not awful or anything. But he figures it out and pounds the strike zone. He makes an adjustment, and then he’s back to what we all know he can do. He has tons of confidence in himself, not to be mistaken for arrogance. He communicates well with his teammates and the staff. He knows who he is. He’s comfortable in his own skin.”
Montero has a good read, too.
“He’s locked in. He seems like a great teammate, and he's dedicated,” he said.
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