Jackie Bradley Jr. arrived in Fort Myers Saturday to begin his second stint as a Red Sox. The Gold Glove recipient and one-time All-Star learned he was traded in a whirlwind sequence of events while at Mookie Betts’ wedding of all places.
“We weren’t allowed to have our phones,” recalled Bradley, who hit .163 with six homers in 134 games as a Brewer last season. “There was a special, designated area to where you could have your phone. So I just happened to come out and call my wife.”
Seconds later, Bradley's phone rang with Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns on the other line. “He was like, ‘It’s back to the Red Sox,’” Bradley told Christopher Smith of MassLive. “I was kind of in shock.”
After touching base with his wife and Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, Bradley returned inside, where he broke the news to J.D. Martinez, who also attended Betts’ wedding.
“I gave him a hug. I was like, ‘Hey teammate. It’s good to see you again.’”
Betts’ wedding was held December 1st, hours before the lockout would begin. Because of the work stoppage, Bradley’s call with Bloom the night he got traded was the last contact he had with the Red Sox until reporting for spring training this weekend.
Betts and Bradley made up two thirds of the Red Sox’s iconic “Win, Dance, Repeat” outfield that carried Boston to a World Series title in 2018. JBJ was named ALCS MVP that fall, contributing nine RBI in a five-game series victory over Houston. Drafted as a first-round pick in 2011 following a dominant College World Series performance for South Carolina, Bradley owns a career .230/.311/.394 slash line with 104 homers, 405 RBI and 67 steals over 1,007 major league appearances for the Red Sox and Brewers.
LISTEN NOW on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram