Red Sox World Series Champ Offers Conflicting MLB Retirement Stance

Former Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. hasn’t retired — officially.

Bradley, two years removed from the presumed ending of his career, spent 11 seasons in the big leagues as one of the game’s most electric defensive centerfielders. But the 34-year-old still stuck around, logging a 40-game run with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League and a 25-game stint with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets last season.

The now-free agent by definition re-adressed the retirement topic during an on-air appearance midway through Boston’s spring training exhibition against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Bradley provided a conflicted response.

“It set in for me,” Bradley said in WEEI’s booth. “The wife and kids still want me to go. Physically, I definitely could (still play). Mentally, I’m not sure I’m there, but it’s been fun. I’ve been appreciative for everything I’ve went through and the moments that I’ve had. I’ve had great teammates, great coaches, great staffs. Upper management has always been phenomenal. There was never a place that I didn’t play where I didn’t feel like it was top-notch. So, I’ve been fortunate to play with some really good teams.”

Bradley’s last run in the big leagues came with the Kansas City Royals in 2023. Kansas City signed Bradley to a minor-league contract and from there, he logged 43 appearances, hitting .133/.188/.210 with one home run, five doubles and six RBIs. Bradley struck out 29 times across 113 plate appearances, leading many to believe that there was nothing left in the tank for Bradley to offer an MLB club.

WEEI’s Rob Bradford noted that Bradley still hasn’t officially filed retirement paperwork to MLB, therefore, the door isn’t shut for good yet.

Bradley’s big-league service time peaked during the 2018 season, more specifically in the postseason, when he put on a clinic. The Red Sox and Houston Astros matched up in the American League Championship Series, and Boston dropped Game 1. Bradley homered twice, in Games 3 and 4, and was named series MVP as the homegrown talent helped the Red Sox secure their spot in the World Series. Boston proceeded to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, capturing the franchise’s ninth title.

So while Bradley has likely reached the end of his trail as an MLB outfielder, looking back, the 11-year run was a success. No, he wasn’t able to recapture his peak self with the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays or Royals, but Boston will always remember “JBJ” as a 2016 All-Star, centerfield magician and World Series champion.