While the roster won’t be announced until later this week or over the weekend, it would not be surprising to see Archie Bradley – the seventh overall pick in 2011 – donning a Silver Hawks uniform this spring.

According to the Baseball America Prospect Handbook, “he’ll get his first real taste of pro ball at low Class A South Bend to start 2012.” The only other feasible option would be to do what Trevor Bauer did last year and go straight to High-A Visalia. Bradley, though, briefly got his feet wet in the Pioneer League at the end of last season while Bauer began his pro career in Visalia.

Bradley’s fastball sits 92-98 MPH with a power curve between 82-85 MPH. He’s been rumored to have occasionally exceeded 100 MPH.

Barring any unforeseen setbacks, he’ll likely move through the minors rather rapidly. That said, there’s a chance that journey will include a trip to South Bend, at least that’s what the scribes and pundits are saying.

Check out what former Hawk and current big leaguer Miguel Montero had to say about Bradley here …

A prospect profile on Archie here …

Also, if Bradley hadn’t signed last summer he would have likely played quarterback at Oklahoma. Bradley is from Broken Arrow, Okla.

Again, this is all speculation, but we shall see…

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TL