Archie Bradley returns to the mound for Arizona Rookie League D-backs

It’s been a while since Archie Bradley delivered a pitch in a baseball game that counted anywhere in the standings.

In fact, it’s been 79 days since Bradley started and threw five innings in an 8-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

The 23-year-old was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis on June 4.

Bradley was back on the hill Tuesday night in Scottsdale for the Arizona Rookie League D-backs, and he pitched pretty well. The right-hander threw four scoreless innings, giving up just two hits while walking three and striking out six. He didn’t figure into the decision, but the D-backs beat the Royals 3-2 in 10 innings at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

@ArchieBradley7 It was good to see Archie being Archie tonight. Blowing fastballs by hitters. pic.twitter.com/yVJP50v1Yc

— LineDrivePro Trainer (@Line_Drive_Pro) August 19, 2015

Bradley yielded a one-out single in the first inning to Royals shortstop Ricky Aracena, but then induced an inning-ending double play. In the fourth, Bradley faced a bases-loaded, two-out situation after hitting Michael Arroyo with a pitch, but then got Jose Sanchez to tap a come-backer to the box to retire the side and end his evening.

His current stint on the disabled list has been the second of the season. Bradley was struck in the face by a line drive off the bat of Colorado’s Carlos Gonzalez on April 28, and he missed two weeks before returning to the D-backs’ rotation in mid-May.

Follow @AZSports