Former Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. is making a return to baseball, not as a player, but as a studio and game analyst for ESPN’s SEC baseball coverage. “I’m honored to join ESPN and can’t wait to get started covering the game that I love,” Bradley Jr. said. “College baseball has grown a ton since I was at South Carolina, and I hope I can contribute to the sport’s continued growth and popularity through our coverage of the student-athletes who give it their all.” Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bradley Jr. helped the Gamecocks win back-to-back College World Series championships in 2010 and 2011, and was named the CWS Most Outstanding Player in 2010.
He also earned SEC All-Defensive honors in each of those years and was a second-team All-SEC player in 2010. Bradley Jr. ended his three-year tenure in Columbia with 30 home runs, 133 RBIs, a .331 batting average, and 17 stolen bases over 172 games. He did not quite generate those power numbers in the Big Leagues, but was still an integral part of the Red Sox’s 2018 World Series victory.
Former Boston Red Sox player Jackie Bradley Jr. signs an autograph for Junior WooSox player Colton Amato of Shrewsbury on opening day at Polar Park Friday.Rick Cinclair/Telegram & Gazette / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images He was named the 2018 American League Championship Series MVP and finished that postseason run with a .835 OPS. However, Bradley Jr. was best known for his stellar defense in center field, which earned him Gold Glove honors that year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A career .225 batter for Boston, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Kansas City Royals, Bradley Jr. had his best years for the Red Sox.
His lone all-star nod in 2016 saw him record career-highs in just about every major statistical category, headlined by a 26-home run, 87-RBIs, .267 batting, and .835 OPS campaign. His 11-year MLB career and storied time at South Carolina make him an excellent candidate for the analyst job, and he should provide fans with a wealth of knowledge and experience. There are not many ballplayers who can claim both college and MLB titles, and that pedigree should enhance ESPN’s college baseball coverage.
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