Last weekend, the Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame had their 32nd annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony. This year’s class includes former players in the Salem Red Sox organization, including the current General Manager, Allen Lawrence. But none of them are more notable than Jackie Bradley Jr., the eventual major leaguer who was drafted in 2011.
The Gold Glover and one-time All-Star played for Salem for part of the 2012 season. In 67 games with the High-A affiliate of the Red Sox, Bradley Jr. hit .359 with three homers and 52 walks. The speedster in center field also hit 26 doubles and stole 16 bags. In 2012, after his time in Salem, he would move up to Portland and maintain his success. In 2013, he would finally make his debut in Boston.
Rookie Season
Bradley Jr. debuted on Opening Day 2013 as the Red Sox took on the Yankees. Despite not getting a hit in his debut, he was a major contributor. Walking three times, scoring twice, and managing to drive in a run. However, from there, he would struggle and eventually be sent back down to Pawtucket. He would be up and down that season to accommodate injured players, such as David Ortiz and Shane Victorino. The Red Sox would go on to win the World Series that season, but Bradley Jr. was not on the postseason roster.
All-Star Season
In 2016, after a couple of years of going back and forth between Pawtucket and Boston, it seemed like Bradley Jr. finally found his spot on the roster. Early on in the season, he went on a 29-game hitting streak, a mark that tied him for the 4th longest in franchise history. The streak bumped his average to .350 for the season at the time and earned him a Player of the Month award for May 2016. This also led to Bradley Jr. making his first and only All-Star team. He ended the season with a career-high 26 home runs.
World Series Champion
As his career went on, Bradley Jr. became a major piece of the team. Alongside Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi, he was part of a beloved outfield unit that brought a lot of postseason success. In 2018, Bradley Jr. probably had his best all-around season. Throughout his career, he had always been a stellar center fielder, making acrobatic catches and, in some cases, saving games. His incredible defense in center field won him a Gold Glove.
Later in the postseason, he contributed heavily in the American League Championship. He managed to get only three hits, but those three hits drove in nine runs and managed to help push Boston past the defending champions, the Houston Astros. For his timely hits, he won the ALCS MVP. The Red Sox would later go on to win the World Series, with Bradley Jr. getting a ring.
End of First Boston Stint and Return
In 2019, Bradley Jr. dipped offensively, but was just as good as before on the defensive side of the ball. The most iconic catch of his career happened in May 2019, when he robbed Trey Mancini of a walk-off home run in the 11th inning. He caught it over the wall in left-center. Many people dubbed it the “Catch of the Year”. The Red Sox would go on to win in the 12th inning 2-1. Despite stellar defensive plays like that, the Red Sox would ultimately let him walk after the shortened 2020 season.
After a one-year stint in Milwaukee, Bradley Jr. would return to the Red Sox. He wouldn’t have much of an impact, only batting .210 in 91 games. However, he did make a pitching appearance in a blowout loss against the Yankees. During this game, he struck out the 2020 AL batting champ, DJ LeMahieu. Bradley Jr. would later be released on August 4, 2022, after the acquisition of Tommy Pham.
While Bradley Jr. may not have had the offensive bursts that a Betts or a J.D. Martinez type of player would have, he impacted the game with his glove and would occasionally come up in the clutch. He was a vital part of the 2018 World Series-winning team, and he’ll definitely be remembered as a fan favorite.
Main Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
