D-backs GM: Archie Bradley looks like ‘a young Chris Carpenter’

When the Arizona Diamondbacks traded Trevor Bauer in the offseason, they did so for a multitude of reasons.

Besides concerns over his personality and ability to pitch at the major league level, one of them is the fact that the organization is deep in top-level pitching prospects.

So, at least in their eyes, Bauer was expendable.

One such prospect is Archie Bradley who, like Bauer, was selected in the 2011 MLB Draft, albeit four spots later.

“Archie Bradley, in our system, we think somebody that has a chance to be a legitimate number one-type starter in the big leagues,” Towers told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf Wednesday. “He was a football quarterback, he’s athletic, he’s got a power arm with a power breaking ball.

“He reminds me so much of a young Chris Carpenter.”

That wouldn’t be so bad, as Carpenter has racked up 144 career wins, a 3.76 ERA, three All-Star appearances, a Cy Young award and two World Series championships.

But Bradley, who is just 20, has pitched just one full minor league season, going 12-6 with a 3.84 ERA for Single-A South Bend. He struck out 152 in 136 innings while walking 84. He’s a raw talent, but a talent nonetheless.

And one Towers is not afraid to place expectations on.

“This kid would be disappointed if he wasn’t a number one,” he said, admitting Bradley still has to work his way through the system. “It’s just a matter of time before he gets up here, I think, and really has a chance to dominate.”

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