D-backs’ Bradley discusses his two-sport athlete past, football dreams
Aug 23, 2018, 1:17 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Archie Bradley delivers pitch to Colorado Rockies' Ian Desmond in the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 10, 2018, in Denver. Arizona won 8-3. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Archie Bradley has already become an icon for the Arizona Diamondbacks in his four years in the majors, but baseball wasn’t the only athletic career he considered.
Bradley, 26, recently spoke with Jason Kersey of The Athletic about his career as a two-sport athlete. Before he was drafted in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Bradley was committed to play both football and baseball at the University of Oklahoma.
Although he has quickly become a fan-favorite in Arizona, Bradley told Kersey he still throws the football during the offseason. He also said he will try to pursue his football dream if he is out of baseball before the age of 30.
I hope I get to play a long and healthy baseball career, but if I’m out of the game before 30, you’d better believe I’m going to be back in pads somewhere, at least giving it a try.
While Bradley said he would like to give football another go, it seems rather unlikely because of his success in the D-backs’ bullpen.
RELATED STORIES
In 2017, he pitched in 63 games, finishing with an ERA of 1.73 and three wins. This year, Bradley has an ERA of 3.32 in 60 appearances.
Oklahoma’s current starting quarterback, Kyler Murray, is also a two-sport athlete and was selected in the first round of the MLB Draft by the Oakland A’s in June. Because Bradley is an avid OU fan, he gave some advice to the Sooners’ new starting quarterback in the article.
I think when you can find that way to just be yourself, to not let a baseball scout or a teammate or a coach influence the way you act … look, the kid’s as talented as they come. I’d tell him to find his routine. Find a way to be yourself and be yourself consistently.
