Good luck to Jackie Bradley Jr. After denying rumors that he was going to retire, the former star outfielder couldn't find a spot on a team during Spring Training. However, he's determined to prove that he still has something to offer. The Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League, an independent team, signed Bradley to a contract on Thursday. Red Sox While Bradley didn't quite meet the Red Sox's expectations as a batter, he excelled as a defensive player, winning a Gold Glove award in 2018 and maintaining a career fielding percentage of .991 with 72 outfield assists. MLB He made it to the All-Star team in 2016, batting .267 with an OPS of .835, a career high. During that season, he surprisingly had a 29-game hitting streak, the fourth-longest in team history. Bradley also achieved career highs with 26 home runs, 87 RBIs, and 94 runs scored that season. Bradley spent eight years with the Red Sox before leaving for another team in 2021. He moved to a different team in 2022, but eventually returned to the Red Sox that same year. At the age of 33, he played 43 games for the team last year but struggled, hitting just .133 in 113 plate appearances. Jackie Bradley Jr. was named ALCS MVP in 2018.
The most memorable moment of Bradley's time with the Red Sox was during the A.L. Championship Series in 2018, which led to the team's World Series win over the Dodgers that year. In Game 2 at Fenway Park, Bradley hit a three-run double that turned a 4-2 deficit against the Astros into a 5-4 lead for the Red Sox, which they maintained to the end.
Bradley also made a significant impact in Game 3 in Houston, hitting a grand slam in the eighth inning, transforming a tight, 4-2 ball game into an 8-2 rout. In Game 4, his two-out home run in the top of the sixth inning propelled the Red Sox to a 6-5 lead, resulting in their third consecutive win of the series. During the 2018 ALCS, Bradley had a total of three hits against the Astros out of 15 at-bats, yet he won the series MVP award due to his nine RBIs.David Price, a pitcher and Bradley's teammate at the time, expressed, “There’s nobody on this team that I can think of in baseball that deserves it more than Jackie. One, the player that he is. And two, more importantly, the person that he is. He continues to work. He continues to grind.”
It's highly unlikely that Bradley will return to the Red Sox. Milwaukee Price's quote demonstrates Bradley's popularity within the Red Sox and in Boston in general. He likely brings the same positive influence to the Ducks. Manager Lew Ford stated, “Jackie is an exceptional talent with a wealth of experience in the game. We are excited to add his veteran leadership and skillset at the plate and in the field to our roster.” Toronto We probably won’t see him back with the Red Sox this season, unless the team's outfield depth encounters significant issues, but it's easy to cheer for him to get another chance in MLB. Royals The challenge is that there are still many talented unsigned players in the MLB market as we move past the first week of the season. Outfielder Tommy Pham is likely the best among them, with first baseman Brandon Belt not far behind.
However, if a team experiences an early injury or is having problems with centerfield defense, there's a possibility that Bradley might have an opportunity. It's unlikely, but he hasn't given up hope yet.
Red Sox standout Jackie Bradley Jr. is no longer playing in MLB but is attempting to return to a roster by joining an independent team.
Bradley was the hero again in Game 3 in Houston, when his grand slam in the eighth inning turned a tight, 4-2 ball game into an 8-2 rout. In Game 4, Bradley’s two-out home run in the top if the sixth inning put the Red Sox ahead, 6-5, and propelled them to their third straight win of the series.
It was an unforgettable stretch for Bradley, yet those were his only three hits in the series. Bradley was, overall, 3-for-15 against the Astros in the 2018 ALCS, yet he won the series MVP award. Nine RBIs will do that.
As pitcher and teammate David Price said at the time, “There’s nobody on this team that I can think of in baseball that deserves it more than Jackie. One, the player that he is. And two, more importantly, the person that he is. He continues to work. He continues to grind.”
Red Sox Return Highly Unlikely
The quote from Price is emblematic of the popularity of Bradley within the Red Sox as a team, and within Boston in general. He can probably do the same for the Ducks. As manager Lew Ford said in a statement, “Jackie is an exceptional talent with a wealth of experience in the game. We are excited to add his veteran leadership and skillset at the plate and in the field to our roster.”
We won’t be seeing him back with the Red Sox this season, unless something goes horribly wrong with the team’s outfield depth, but it is easy to root for him getting another MLB chance.
Problem is, there are a lot of very good unsigned players still on the MLB market as we get rolling past the first week of the season. Outfielder Tommy Pham is probably the best of the bunch, and first baseman Brandon Belt is not far behind.
But if a team suffers an early injury or is struggling with centerfield defense, maybe Bradley will get a chance. It’s a longshot, but he’s not giving up just yet.
