2 years agoTampa Bay Rays right-handed starting pitching prospect Taj Bradley should make his major league debut in 2023. Following his 2021 breakout, the 21-year-old continued to impress in 2022. Over 28 minor league starts in 2022, including 12 at Triple-A, Bradley posted a 2.57 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and 141 strikeouts against just 33 walks in 133 1/3 innings pitched. Bradley also held opposing batters to just a .213 average in his fourth season in professional ball. Over 73 career minor league appearances (70 starts), Bradley owns an impressive 2.61 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. The top Rays prospect and 20th-ranked MLB prospect (per MLB Pipeline) will likely begin in 2023 at Triple-A. Despite his overall 2022 numbers, Bradley only managed a 3.66 ERA at Triple-A Durham in comparison to a 1.70 ERA at Double-A Montgomery. As a result, the Rays will most likely want Bradley to get some additional work in at Durham before his eventual promotion. Bradley projects as a number one starting pitcher who offers an overpowering four-seam fastball that sits between 94-96 mph. He also throws a plus mid-80s slider that Bradley refers to as a cutter. If Bradley can perform early on at Triple-A in 2023, he may see the big leagues sooner than a late-season cup of coffee. With an ADP of 629, managers in deep mixed and AL-only redraft formats could do worse than a late-round flyer on Bradley hoping for a June promotion. There is real potential for Bradley to be a fantasy contributor in 2023, unlike other like-starting pitching prospects, given the Rays' history of promoting deserving talent.--Nick Ritrivi - RotoBaller