Five pitchers in focus in NL West

Arizona: Archie Bradley

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

As Tyler Lockman of FOX Sports Arizona put it…

"It was only three innings, it was only spring training, and it’s still early March. All that aside, Archie Bradley sure did make an impression Monday night."

To say Bradley’s spring training debut start was much-anticipated would be selling the whole thing short. He’s the D’backs top prospect for a reason. Bradley was facing MLB hitters that were not teammates. In those three innings, six strikeouts.

In his first seven pitches, six strikes, two whiffs. The victims: Drew Stubbs and Michael Cuddyer. Now Cincinnati Reds fans will tell you about Stubbs striking out on three pitches. In fact, catcher Henry Blanco said that despite going three innings, he and Bradley never had the opportunity to work on a third pitch. Bradley threw mostly fastballs and had a breaking ball or two.

With Arizona bringing in Bronson Arroyo on a two-yer deal, the prevailing thought (including my own) was that Bradley could take his time in making it to the show. If Bradley can build on this short outing throughout the entire spring, that time will certainly be sooner rather than later.