Jackie Bradley Jr. had a pretty good Major League career. It wasn’t Hall of Fame worthy, but it was better than most.
In 11 MLB seasons, including nine with the Red Sox, he was an All-Star, a Gold Glove winner, an ALCS MVP and a World Series champion. Not too shabby.
A first-round draft pick by Boston in 2011, Bradley began his professional career with the Red Sox later that year. He quickly rose through the Minor Leagues and debuted in 2013.
One of the key stepping stones in Bradley’s baseball journey was with the Salem Red Sox in High-A, where he spent part of the 2012 season before moving up to Double-A Portland.
Earlier this week, Bradley was inducted into the Salem Red Sox Hall of Fame as part of their Class of 2026.
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Bradley posted a picture of his plaque on X on Thursday with the following caption: “Wow! What a surreal honor. I’m thankful and extremely grateful to be a part of the 2026 Salem Red Sox Hall of Fame!”
Bradley flourished for Salem in his 67 games there, batting .359/.480/.526 and immediately establishing himself as one of the best prospects in Boston’s farm system. He also had 31 extra-base hits, 34 RBI, 53 runs and 16 stolen bases, showcasing a promising blend of speed, power, patience and defense.
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He continued to play well after moving up to Portland and reached the Major Leagues the following year, kicking off a successful run with the Red Sox as one of their best defensive center fielders in franchise history.
Featured image via Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images
