He’s one of the top defensive center fielders in baseball. And Jackie Bradley Jr. hit .378 in spring training, compiling a .906 OPS.
So where does the manager slot Bradley into the lineup?
You’ll have to ask Kevin Boles, manager of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. Not surprisingly, Bradley, 24, was sent to the minors Thursday, days before the Boston Red Sox opener.
The bigger news may be that outfielder Rusney Castillo also was sent down. He batted .310/.931 this spring, but in only nine games. Even if Castillo is making $10.5 million this year, he could use a touch more seasoning – or until right fielder Shane Victorino is hurt.
Castillo will be back in Boston. The Red Sox are paying him too much and he’s under contract through 2020.
Bradley? That’s another question. Entering this spring he had little to no chance of making the major league team if everyone else stayed healthy.
He could have batted 1.000 this spring and still been sent to Pawtucket.
“I don’t make those decisions,” Bradley said earlier this week, during a chat in front of his locker. “All I can do is play.”
What Bradley has to do is hit consistently in the regular season.
His fielding is among the best. He starred at Hadlock Field in the second half of the 2012 season, patrolling center field with speed, poise and the best jumps a fielder could get on a ball.
He batted only .271 in Portland, slumping at the end, with injuries blamed.
But in spring training of 2013, Bradley shined. He was put on Boston’s opening-day roster, filling in for injured players.
He batted only .189 in 37 major league games that year, but there were few concerns. Bradley’s time was coming, especially with Jacoby Ellsbury leaving for the New York Yankees.
Last season Bradley drew oohs and ahhs for his defense at Fenway. But he looked uncomfortable at the plate, trying to pull the ball and missing a lot.
Bradley batted .198 with 121 strikeouts and was sent to Pawtucket in mid-August to try to fix things.
He didn’t. Now he’s trying to forget about it.
“You’ve got to let it go,” Bradley said.
The Red Sox knew they needed more options. They signed Castillo in August and inked Hanley Ramirez to a deal in the offseason, planning to make him an outfielder.
With Ramirez in left, Victorino in right, the emerging Mookie Betts in center, along with Castillo, Daniel Nava and Allen Craig, Bradley was easily squeezed out.
Bradley needed to return to the form that once made him a top prospect.
“It’s all about forming good habits and getting back to what I do,” Bradley said.
To do that, he and Victor Rodriguez, Boston’s assistant hitting coach, got together.
“Began working with him in January,” Rodriguez said. “He came in with a plan and stuck to the plan. “He’s eliminated movement and the leg kick. He’s staying on top of the ball. More line drives.”
A simple approach seems to be working.
So what is Bradley’s future with the Red Sox? Barring injuries to others, there doesn’t appear to be a lot of room.
But who knows? Victorino is probably gone after this year and maybe Ramirez eventually plays more of a DH role in future years. It’s possible Boston finds a spot for the gifted glove of Bradley if his bat can deliver.
Until then the center fielder, a finalist for a Gold Glove last year, will be in the minors.
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