MLB.com Prospect Positional Rankings: Bradley, Lamb On List

Tonight, MLB.com and MLB Network will reveal their list of the top 100 prospects in all of baseball, and many Dbacks prospects especially on the pitching side should be on the list. I am excited for the announcement as I am every year, and we will have plenty of coverage after the list is revealed.

In preparation for the unveiling of the top 50 tonight with the other 50 to be reveled on MLBPipeline.com, MLB.com has been releasing top 10 prospect lists for each position including LH pitcher, RH pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and outfield, and Dbacks prospects are on these lists.

Lets take a look at the Diamondbacks prospects that are on MLB.com’s positional rankings lists, and what they have to say about them!

Archie Bradley-#4 RHP

Scouting grades according to MLB.com: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 60

MLB.com Scouting Report:

“The 2014 season didn’t exactly go according to plan for Bradley, who many thought would spend most of the season in the big league rotation. Instead, the former first-round pick struggled with injury (elbow) and performance for much of the year. He did rebound in the Arizona Fall League a bit, providing some optimism for 2015.

After missing nearly two months because of a flexor strain in his right elbow, Bradley returned with less velocity and less bite on his stuff for the rest of the season. In the AFL, though, his fastball had bounced back into the mid 90s. His curve also regained some of its depth and started to look like the above-average pitch it once was. Bradley’s changeup has improved as he’s matured, and he also added a slider in Arizona, having some immediate success with it. His command remains an issue, though health might help him gain some more consistency with his delivery.

It would be wrong to say Bradley’s star has faded, but he does feel he has something to prove. That could serve as motivation as he tries to reclaim his reputation as one of the most exciting young right-handers in the game.”

I think MLB.com’s assessment of Bradley heading into 2015 is pretty accurate. He struggled with injuries and under-performance in 2015, and he just isn’t the top pitching prospect in alhttps://venomstrikes.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=39113&action=editl of baseball like he was a few years ago.

I saw him in the AFL this past fall, and it seems like his plus plus velocity is back, and if he can stay healthy, I think his delivery will become more consistent, and his command and control will get better. I will be intrigued to see how much success he can have with his slider.

As long as Bradley can show in the early part of the minor-league season that he is back to the pitcher he once was, I can see Bradley having a big impact at the major-league level this season.

Jake Lamb-#7 3B

Scouting grades according to MLB.com: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 60 | Field: 60 | Overall: 55

MLB.com Scouting Report:

“An uneven college career led to a sixth-round selection in the 2012 Draft by the D-backs. The organization’s work with Lamb really paid off in 2014 as Lamb started the year in Double-A and finished it in the big leagues where Lamb saw regular time as Arizona’s third baseman.

As a pro, Lamb has greatly altered his approach at the plate and smoothed out his swing. That has allowed him to hit for both average and tap into his considerable power more consistently. While his power profile has improved, he hasn’t sacrificed his ability to hit, proof of which comes in his .321 career average in the Minors. He is a patient hitter who isn’t afraid to draw walks, as evidenced by his .406 career on-base percentage heading into the 2015 season. Lamb has a very strong arm and good hands and will be able to stay at third base defensively long term.

Lamb has shown he can compete at the big league level. Given the opportunity, he could fit the profile at the hot corner for a long time to come.”

Lamb unlike Yasmany Tomas, is a great defender at 3B, which is the advantage of playing him there. I’m not sure if he should be considered a prospect, but he hasn’t played a full season in the majors yet. Lamb has the potential to be an impact bat.

The big question with Lamb is will he get the playing time. The Diamondbacks really like Tomas at 3B, and Brandon Drury is developing quickly. Given this team’s infield depth, Lamb might turn into a trade asset. It just depends on how much the Snakes value him.

Stay tuned tonight where Bradley, Lamb, and other Dbacks prospects land in the top 100!