BY GEORGE DICKIE
When Jackie Bradley Jr. signed a two-year, $24 million
contract with the Milwaukee Brewers during the 2020-21
offseason, the expectation was the former Red Sox would
provide his usual elite defense in center field while putting
forth unspectacular though acceptable output at bat.
Instead, he had the 2021 season to forget, hitting a career-
low .163 with only six home runs, 29 RBI and a .497 OPS
in 387 at-bats, numbers that make it difficult to justify giving
him much playing time no matter his glovework. So it hardly
came as a surprise when the Brewers shipped Bradley back to
Boston with two prospects for outfielder Hunter Renfroe.
In a strange twist of fate, he happened to be among his
former Sox teammates when he learned of the Nov. 30 deal.
He was at ex-Sox rightfielder Mookie Betts' wedding when
he got the call from David Stearns, the Brewers' president of
baseball operations. After the
call ended, a shocked Bradley
turned to the man standing
next to him, Sox DH J.D.
Martinez, and told him what
had just gone down. The two
hugged with Bradley saying,
"Hey teammate, good to see
you again."
Bradley and the Red Sox
can be seen in action Sunday,
April 10, when they close out
a three-game series against
the New York Yankees in a
game airing on ESPN.
Back in Boston, Bradley hopes to
put nightmarish 2021 behind him
• FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 11 - 17, 2022 •
YOUR WEEKLY GUIDE TO TV ENTERTAINMENT
Jenna Dewan is a judge on
"Come Dance With Me,"
premiering Friday on CBS.
