D-backs still see Archie Bradley as starter long-term, but he will remain in bullpen
Apr 30, 2017, 3:30 PM | Updated: 5:44 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Archie Bradley throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, March 12, 2017, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Arizona Diamondbacks still have high hopes for Archie Bradley being a part of the rotation, but even with a rotation spot opening up, now is still not the time according to D-backs manager Torey Lovullo.
With Shelby Miller out for the year and electing to have Tommy John surgery, Lovullo was asked if the D-backs figured out their rotation for the upcoming series against the Washington Nationals.
“We have and it is not going to be Archie Bradley as a starter,” Lovullo said Sunday. “Archie is going to remain in the bullpen.”
Bradley has had a ton of success in that role. Heading into Sunday’s game against the Colorado Rockies, Bradley had a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings with a bullpen-best 18 strikeouts and team-best 0.80 WHIP.
“The way we look at it is he’s been pretty dominant in the bullpen,” Lovullo said. “We just felt like that’s where he has shown a comfort and for right now we want to continue with that and allow him to continue to be as dominant as he has been. Made a lot of sense for me.”
Lovullo confirmed that the team still looks at him as a long-term starter, but for now, the first-year manager believes this is the right spot for the 24-year-old right-hander.
Bradley started 26 games last season for Arizona, going 8-9 with a 5.02 ERA. For both 2013 and 2014, Bradley was ranked as the best overall prospect for the D-backs by Baseball America and was a top-25 prospect overall for Baseball America from 2011 to 2014.
