Free Agent Center Fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., one of the best defensive center fielders who helped lead the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018, is expected to retire this offseason. Bradley was drafted 40th overall in the 2011 MLB Draft out of the University of South Carolina.
He made his big league debut in 2013, playing in 37 games for the Red Sox, going 18-95. He played for the Red Sox for nine seasons, with 2016 being his best season, slashing .267/.349/.486 with a .835 OPS; he had 30 doubles, seven triples, 26 home runs, 87 RBI, 94 runs scored, nine stolen bases, and 63 walks and was also an All-Star.
In 2018 he was a part of the Killer B’s, which included Bradley, Xander Bogaerts, Andrew Benintendi, and Mookie Betts. Bradley was a big reason why the Red Sox advanced to the World Series, as he slashed .200/.400/.667 with a 1.067 OPS; he had a double, two home runs, nine RBI, three runs scored, and four walks leading to him being named ALCS MVP as the Red Sox took down the Houston Astros in five games. In the World Series, he went 3-13 with a home run in five games as the Red Sox claimed their fourth World Series title in 15 seasons.
Bradley would sign with the Milwaukee Brewers in free agency in 2021 but, following that season would be traded back to the Red Sox along with prospects in exchange for Hunter Renfroe. He played in 91 games for the Red Sox that season before being released and then signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for the rest of the season, where he played 40 games. In 2023, he signed with the Kansas City Royals, where he played in 43 games, going 14-105, but was released in August.
Bradley would finish his career with a slash line of .225/.303/.381 with a .684 OPS; he had 204 doubles, 24 triples, 101 home runs, 449 RBI, 514 runs scored, 69 stolen bases, and 361 walks. He will finish with a .991 fielding percentage and a 10.3 defensive WAR. He was a one-time All-Star and won a Gold Glove in 2018. Bradley won’t go down as one of the best players to play the game, but he will be remembered for that 2018 World Series as he enters retirement after an 11-year career.
