FIRST-ROUND TALENTS:
Jed Bradley was not drafted out of high school in Huntsville, Ala., but has pitched in the Yellow Jackets weekend rotation for the better part of the last three seasons as he has filled out his 6-foot-4 frame, going from 180-190 pounds when he came to school to a sturdy 224. A rotation stalwart his last two seasons, Bradley was at his best last summer, when he ranked as the Cape Cod League’s No. 4 prospect while tying for the league lead in strikeouts. While he’s not generally thought of as overpowering, Bradley knows how to miss bats. Scouts love his pitcher’s frame, and he has a clean, loose arm. Bradley’s fastball sits anywhere from 88-94 mph. In better starts, he’s at the higher end of that range, touching 95. His low 80s slider gives him a second plus pitch, and his changeup sits around 80 mph with fade. He had yet to give up a home run this season, and he earns high marks for his confidence and work ethic. Scouts have noticed Bradley’s stuff has not been as sharp out of the stretch this spring, and his changeup has lacked consistency, but he’s still expected to be drafted among the first 10 picks.
