Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley heating up

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Apr 30, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25) and catcher Christian Vazquez (7) are congratulated by second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) after scoring during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25) and catcher Christian Vazquez (7) are congratulated by second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) after scoring during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

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Things have turned around for Bradley over the past week, as those hard hit balls are finding room to land where defenders can’t get to them. While he’s only hit one out of the park this season, he’s using the gaps to drive the ball with authority. Bradley leads the league with 4 triples this season and his 11 extra-base hits are tied for 10th with a handful of others, including teammates Dustin Pedroia, Mookie Betts and Travis Shaw.

Bradley has always been a streaky hitter that is prone to extended slumps, but in the past he wasn’t always given the opportunity to fight his way through it. In the first half of last season his anemic offensive production got him benched or demoted to the minors. After what the Red Sox saw he was capable of last August, that’s no longer a concern. Bradley now has the confidence that he can hit at the major league level, which has helped him pull out of his early season slump much quicker this time.

"“It’s a tough game,” said Bradley. “It will eat you up if you let it. (The key is) just staying confident in myself, knowing that I have what it takes to play here and not straying from that.”"

Next: Aggressive approach

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