The Mets signed outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. Tuesday from the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League to a minor league contract. The 34-year-old hit .400 in 40 games for the Ducks and clobbered 12 homers, 35 RBIs and a 1.204 OPS. He was on a franchise-record 28-game hitting streak when he got the call from New York. He will report to Triple-A Syracuse. Sean W. Alcide was first with the news.
“Jackie has been incredibly deserving of this opportunity,” Ducks manager Lew Ford said in a news release. “He has been one of the Atlantic League’s best hitters this season, and we look forward to watching him continue his goal of returning to the major leagues.”
The left-handed hitting Bradley played in 43 games for the Kansas City Royals last season, hitting .133/.188/.210 in 113 plate appearances with one home run and five doubles. In 2022, he hit .203/.255/.311 in 370 plate appearances combined with the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.
Bradley holds a career line of .225/.303/.381 hitter and has hit 109 home runs. He was a 2016 All-Star with Boston when he hit 26 home runs and had a .835 OPS, also winning a Gold Glove in 2018.
The signing comes when the Mets find themselves in the throes of a Wild Card race. Starling Marte, their everyday outfielder has been out with a knee injury for the past month and there is no timetable on his return. DJ Stewart and Tyrone Taylor have been platooning in the outfield along with Jeff McNeil. However, Bradley’s bat and athleticism add another layer for the Mets.
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