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MLB Draft 2011 Prospects: Could Astros Be Locking In On Archie Bradley?

Word via Astros Examiner Stephen Goff is that Oklahoma HS pitcher Archie Bradley has been in close contact with Astros area scout Jim Stevenson. Combine this with a piece on Astros.com about how Astros scouting director Bobby Heck loves some of the power arms in this class, and I think there's reason to believe that Houston will select a pitcher at No. 11 overall.

Rivals recently mocked Bradley to the Astros, here's what they had to say about him:

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The Pick: Archie Bradley, RHP, Broken Arrow (Okla.) High
The Buzz: The Astros reached on all three first round picks last season and may be stretching themselves again with Bradley at No. 11. The talent is certainly there, but so is the pricetag as the Astros will need to buy him out of the opportunity to compete to be the quarterback at Oklahoma. The benefit is that the team can use his dual-sport ability to stretch his signing bonus over five years.

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I don't know how much of a reach Bradley would actually be on talent, as he's the ninth ranked player on John Sickels' Big Board at Minor League Ball. I would probably avoid a first round pitcher that didn't have once-in-a-generation talent just based on the odds unless he was clearly the best player available, but that is a personal preference and by no means makes Bradley a reach.

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Now, the fact that he's from Oklahoma...that worries me a bit.

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