MLB’s Hired Glove, Jackie Bradley Jr., Looks To Add Value To His New Team In Toronto

After his second stint with the Boston Red Sox, Jackie Bradley Jr. was released from the team earlier this month.

It did not take Bradley Jr. long to find a new team either. The Toronto Blue Jays decided to sign the one-time all-star.

 

 

The Gold Glove winner struggled at the plate this season during his time in Boston. Through 92 games with the Red Sox this season, Bradley Jr. hit a mere .210 with 58 strikeouts.

Despite his struggles at the plate, he still provides value on the field with his glove. Bradley Jr. remains one of the best defenders in the game and that is a big reason why he still sees playing time on the field.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora talked about the release of Bradley Jr. and how it came to be.

“It was the roster configuration,” he said in an article from mlb.com. 

“We were hoping, offensively, it was going to be a lot better than last year,” Cora said. “He had some stretches at home that were good. Obviously, he struggled toward the end. We weren’t able to get him to be consistent hitting the ball the other way. This year, there weren’t too many strikeouts. But toward the end, there were a lot of ground balls to the pull side. Offensively, it just didn’t work out.”

Throughout his career, Bradley Jr. has had success and has won at the highest level. 

And now he’ll look to be a leader in the dugout for the Blue Jays. 

 

 

He is excited and eager to help his new team make a push to the postseason this year.

“I’m here to help any way I possibly can,” Bradley Jr. told mlb.com. “I’m excited to be here. It’s a great team, a contending team and I’ve heard a lot of great things.”

The Blue Jays have a good amount of outfielders on the depth chart, so it will be interesting to see how Toronto will utilize Bradley Jr. as the regular season comes to an end. There is a reason the team decided to sign him, and they will find a way to best utilize him. In addition to having experience and being clutch on a World Series-winning squad, Bradley is a Top 3 glove in the game. 

“It’s another to add to the mix,” Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider said on the signing of Bradley Jr.. “He has a great track record and is familiar with this division. I love his defensive and speed and his versatility. At this time of year, it’s always good to have as many options as you can.”

 

 

Bradley Jr. can also be a vocal leader on this Blue Jays team and his experience will provide a lot of value for Toronto.