Jackie Bradley Jr.’s arm passes the eyeball test. It’s also impressive when broken down with metrics.
Bradley, well-known for his defensive prowess, fired an absolute strike to home plate Thursday in the ninth inning of the Boston Red Sox’s 8-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. It prevented a sacrifice fly, completed a double play and offered a reminder of just how good the Red Sox outfielder is defensively.
MLB.com analyzed Bradley’s throw using its Statcast feature. If you were amazed simply by seeing the accurate missile, you’ll be even more impressed upon learning the velocity behind it.
Bradley was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket before Thursday’s game. There’s no telling how long he’ll remain with Boston or if he’ll hit enough to evolve into an everyday major leaguer, but his defense already is elite.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
