“He cannot hit!” “Send him down.” Blah, blah, blah. When discussing Jackie Bradley Jr. and what he means to the Red Sox, these are the responses I get. However, I disagree. Jackie Bradley Jr. is doing exactly what the Red Sox need him to do. Jackie Bradley Jr. is currently hitting .225 with two homeruns and six runs batted in. If his average climbs to the .240-.250 range for the season, that is all we need.
Defensive Wizard
In case you are living under a rock, Jackie Bradley Jr. is already making jaw-dropping plays. His spectacular catch against the Marlins is pretty much forgotten because of the catch he made against the Orioles.
Watch the catch here:
I mean, this ball is about a millionth of a centimeter from touching the ground, and JBJ swoops in and catches it. The fact that Jackie Bradley Jr. was not a finalist for a Golden Glove last season is a joke. If you search “Jackie Bradley Jr. Catch”, about thirty different shocking plays will pop up. JBJ takes so many runs away from opposing teams. In addition to Craig Kimbrel, David Price and Chris Sale, all owe him a debt of gratitude. The hits he takes away from teams more than makes up for his (sometimes) disappointing bat. However, by no means is Jackie Bradley Jr. a slouch at the plate.
Hitting
Is Jackie Bradley Jr. the best hitter on the Red Sox? No. Is he an instant out? Absolutely not. JBJ can drive the ball. When he gets a hold of one, it flies off his bat. His numbers from the 2016 campaign are outstanding. A .267 average, 26 homeruns, and 87 RBIs. Many players only dream of achieving these stats. Not to mention an All-Star selection and a 29-game hitting streak mixed in? Wow. As a matter of fact, JBJ is one of only five Red Sox players to hit a homerun onto Eutaw Street at Camden Yards. Only 89 dingers have reached Eutaw Street. Jackie joins David Ortiz, who hit two, Mo Vaughn, Carl Everett, and Troy O’Leary. Not bad company to be in.
If Jackie Bradley Jr. keeps playing the way he is, there is no reason not to keep him in Boston long term. With Scott Boras as his agent, he might look to get his client overpaid. However, JBJ is a smart guy. Despite this, I hope to see him manning center field for years to come.
#AllthewaywithJBJ
Follow Matt McGurn on twitter: @MickGurn