Why You Can Expect Jackie Bradley Jr. To Steal More Bases In 2018

Jackie Bradley Jr. is ready to run.

The Boston Red Sox center fielder hasn’t exactly been a stolen-base threat over the past two seasons, as he only has attempted 22 thefts in that time period.

But 2018 is a different season.

Bradley stole his first base of spring training Saturday against the New York Yankees. When asked if he thinks his swipe against the Yankees was a precursor of things to come in the upcoming campaign, Bradley offered a short answer.

“I know,” he said, per WEEI’s Rob Bradford.

The 27-year-old noted that in previous years he didn’t have “the green light” to steal, but that has changed under new manager Alex Cora.

“He just said, ‘I’m giving you the green light.’ Simple as that,” Bradley said.

Bradley is 17-for-22 in stolen base attempts over the last two seasons, so his speed is a weapon that can be utilized. And he is focused on honing that craft during Grapefruit League play.

“Everything you do in this game is about repetition and consistency,” Bradley Jr. said, “so you have to work on it in order to use it.”

The Red Sox have the ability to be one of Major League Baseball’s most dangerous teams on the base paths, as Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, Xander Bogaerts and Bradley all are capable of creating havoc on the bases.

And it sounds like Cora is ready to turn them loose.