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Red Sox Nation 11/5: 5 Reasons Not to Trade Jackie Bradley Jr.

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

Jul 21, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Minnesota Twins during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Minnesota Twins during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 11, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25) is greeted at home plate by left fielder Brock Holt (12) after hitting a three-run home run against Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Mr. Reliable

The development of Jackie Bradley Jr. was one of the big stories of the 2016 season.  He bounced back from a season in which he hit a low .216 to become one of the team’s power sources during the first half of the season.  Most importantly, Bradley Jr. was a player who showed up every day to work (except the birth of his child) and was a constant in the lineup.

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Despite the offensive inconsistency, having his grove in the field was more important than his bat.  He played in 156 of the team’s 162 games, including all 3 post-season games.  His availability showcased both his durability and stamina as an everyday player as well as the hard work and commitment he puts into the game.  All of those qualities made him a first-time All-Star.

"“I’ve been through a lot of adversity, but honestly, I think that shows that I’m willing to go through it, to put the work in and keep moving forward,” Bradley said before a game in July. “It sounds a little cliché — everybody always says, ‘It’s a dream come true.’ I never really thought of ‘All-Star’ as being a dream for me. My dream was always to play at a major league level. “I’ve been able to be an All-Star at every single level that I’ve played at on a consistent basis. So, I’m glad that I get to be an All-Star at the top level as well.”"

Perseverance can go a long way in the league, Bradley Jr. is committed to only getting better as his experience grows.

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