D-backs pitcher Archie Bradley learns the lessons of a first-time beard grower

People notice Archie Bradley.

Out in public, men especially want to compliment him.

It’s not necessarily because he’s Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley.

“I get so many more compliments from guys. It’s crazy, actually,” Bradley told Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “I was getting gas and the guy from across the pump said, ‘Dude, great beard.'”

This is the life of a man who, for the first time in his life, is letting his facial hair fly.

D-backs teammate Robbie Ray — himself a bearded pitcher — urged Bradley to let his beard develop. Bradley brushed those wishes aside for awhile, until he joined his teammates in “no-shave November” last year.

After the razor-free month, Bradley decided he’d see where he could take his beard from there.

“Well, I’ve had a lot of inspirations over the years,” Bradley told Burns and Gambo. “Dating back, My dad and little brother have always grown massive beards, always. Never had the patience. The color, I was always scared it was going to come in bright red.”

As with baseball, growing a beard requires lessons learned. Like baseball, some of those lessons come in the middle of a game.

Luckily, Bradley has spring to work out the kinks of pitching with a beard.

“Obviously, I’m getting into the warmer parts of Arizona now,” Bradley said Thursday after a successful start. “Second inning I was about to walk out to go out to the mound and I sweat naturally a lot — a real lot. Something hit my wrist. Sweat was hitting my wrist. I checked my hat. My beard was having the whole drippage going. So I had to give the ol’ beard a jersey swipe and get the sweat out of it.”

Apparently, it’s worth it. Bradley said his mom likes the look as does his girlfriend.

Same goes for that random dude at the gas station.

“I didn’t think I’d love it so much,” Bradley said.

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