As 2011 MLB Draft picks keep rolling in, let's pause to appreciate Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets pitcher Jed Bradley going No. 15 to the Milwaukee Brewers. The big lefty had been projected by analysts anywhere from No. 4 to the Baltimore Orioles to No. 26 to the Boston Red Sox, so it looks like all those projections should've just been averaged.
Here's baseball prospects expert John Sickels on Bradley:
Polished lefty offers three pitches (88-94 fastball, plus slider, solid change) with excellent command, though stock dropped somewhat late this spring. Allowed just one homer so far. 7-3, 3.49 ERA with 106/31 K/BB in 98 innings.
ESPN's Keith Law mocked Bradley to Cleveland, but did not sound like he was in love with the pick -- apparently quite a few MLB general managers agreed with that sentiment. On a positive note, Crawfish Boxes thinks he has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in this draft, while one scouting director reportedly said Bradley is the crop's best college pitcher.
In his final game with the Jackets, Bradley threw 7 and two-thirds innings against the Southern Miss. Golden Eagles leading Tech out of a Saturday elimination game in the NCAA Tournament's Atlanta Regional.
For more on the 2011 MLB Draft, which begins at 7 pm ET, follow along with Baseball Nation's previews and live draft coverage and Minor League Ball's prospect reports. Talking Chop and SB Nation Atlanta will have analysis of the Atlanta Braves' No. 28 pick.