4. Jackie Bradley Jr.
After getting selected 40th overall, back in 2011, Jackie Bradley Jr. has endured a great career in Boston. First and foremost, he’s played center field better than anybody in this historic ballclub’s history. Winning his first Gold Glove, last season, JBJ’s work on the defensive end was finally underlined by the league.
He’s one of the elite defenders in the league, and his athleticism that he’s displayed on countless occasions, producing superman-like catches in the middle of the park, is second to absolutely none, which signifies him as an ever so more than worthy draft choice by the Sox.
Jackie hasn’t put a foot wrong through his career in Boston, defensively. There’ve been real concerns over his hitting, none so more than this season, however, he’s always shown that he has plenty of pop in his bat. Winning the ALCS MVP, last season, JBJ produced a number of key runs on the Sox’s way to their ninth franchise World Series championship.
Bradley’s best overall year came in 2016 when he won All-Star honors for a tremendous two-way season. JBJ tallied a career-high, thus far, 87 RBI with 26 bombs on the year. There’s no doubt that he’s been one of the best defenders the last few seasons.
With more solid consistency at the plate, JBJ can definitely become an All-Star again – he just needs to keep his May form up. This pick was definitely one of the most important the Sox made over the last couple of decades.