Jackie Bradley Jr. learned about Red Sox return alongside Mookie Betts
The sports world is incredibly unique as on any given day you can have a new employer. Seriously, imagine going into the office tomorrow and your boss tells you that you’ve been traded to the company across the street. One of the last transactions made before MLB initiated the lockout was the return of Jackie Bradley Jr. to the Red Sox in a surprise move by the organization.
While the trade, in and of itself, should be enough to put a smile on many members of Red Sox Nation’s faces, where JBJ learned about the move makes the story even better. The former and now once again Boston outfielder was at Mookie Betts’ wedding when he decided to step out of the reception to check his phone.
Jackie mentions that Betts didn’t allow phones inside the ceremony or reception but did have a dedicated area where people could check their phones. Just after hanging up with his wife, he received a call from Milwaukee’s president of baseball ops, and then the news hit. After just a year with the Brewers, he’d be making his way back to Fenway Park for 2022. Boston also gained the services of prospects Alex Binelas and David Hamilton while Hunter Renfroe would now be calling Brew City home.
"“So here’s the real story,” Bradley said. “I actually come out of the wedding. So it’s during the reception now. It was Markus’ wedding actually. We weren’t allowed to have our phones,” Bradley said. “So there was a special, designated area to where you could have your phone. So I just happened to come out and call my wife. Five seconds after I hang up the phone, I get a call,” Bradley said. “He was like, ‘It’s back to the Red Sox.’ And I was like, ‘Wow. Wow.’ I mean, I didn’t really have anything to say. I was kind of in shock. I was still actually present somewhere else.”"
Jackie happened to be standing near J.D. Martinez while finding out about coming back to the Red Sox and he gave Boston’s big DH a hug and let him in on the news. I can’t think of a better place to find out that you’re going back to the team that drafted you than at your best friend’s wedding with other members of your team.
I love the idea of JBJ coming back to the Red Sox as he offers such a complement to the outfield. We all know that his bat doesn’t bring in the paychecks but his glove certainly does. While Renfroe offered much more in the way of offense, Jackie brings a far higher quality when it comes to the defensive side of the coin. Jackie posted a 1.000 total FLD% in 2021 while Hunter finished with a .957.
Boston has a surplus of outfielders right now with Alex Verdugo, Kiké Hernández, Jarren Duran, and Jackie. The team has also been heavily linked to Kyle Schwarber and Seiya Suzuki, both of which would have playing time in the outfield as well. I could see Kiké splitting time between center and second base while Jackie hangs out in right field. But everything is speculation until we start getting to spring training games and how everyone gels.
"“I definitely enjoyed the rest of the night,” Bradley said. “I tried to kind of push it to the side momentarily. But it was a lot to grasp at one moment.”"
I don’t believe that JBJ will be an everyday player but he will play a role in multiple facets. I feel that his best role would be platoon at centerfield while being a mentor to Duran. Jarren is the future centerfielder of the Red Sox but he still needs to work on his tools on defense. There’s nobody better to learn under than the former Gold Glove winner. Boston can use this season to not only give Jackie an opportunity at another contract but also set up their future plans.
It’s good to have Jackie Bradley Jr. back in the fold with the Red Sox and I’m interested to see just what he can do back with the club. Who knows if he’ll be here after this season finishes but just getting one more year of JBJ robbing homers is good for now. I wish him nothing but the best and would love nothing more than for him to have a killer year and get that last good-money deal.