“Breaking News: Red Sox Legend Jackie Bradley Jr. Drops Bombshell Retirement Announcement!”

Jackie Bradley Jr.’s tenure as one of baseball’s most underrated defensive players appears to be reaching its conclusion.

The 33-year-old outfielder is poised to announce his retirement after an 11-year career, predominantly with the Boston Red Sox, as revealed by MLB insider Jon Heyman over the weekend.

Originally selected by Boston as the 40th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Bradley made his Major League debut on Opening Day in 2013. His retirement will be marked by an impressive career, including an All-Star season, a Gold Glove Award, and two World Series rings earned during his time with the Red Sox.

Despite winning only one Gold Glove in 2018, Bradley’s defensive prowess was consistently reliable and spectacular throughout his years in Fenway Park’s challenging center field. He earned a reputation as a one-man highlight reel, making jaw-dropping catches with leaps and dives and scaling walls to rob hitters of home runs. Between 2014 and 2017, he ranked in the top 10 in the American League in Defensive Wins Above Replacement three times. His career 10.3 dWAR currently stands 19th among active players. Bradley led AL center fielders in putouts in 2016 and 2019 and boasted six top-10 seasons in CF assists, leading the league in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019.

While not consistently prolific at the plate, Bradley showcased moments of brilliance. On August 15, 2015, he joined a select group of modern Major Leaguers with five extra-base hits in a single game. The following spring, he earned American League Player of the Month honors with a 29-game hitting streak, tying for the fourth-longest in Red Sox history. His lone All-Star season occurred in 2016.

Perhaps most memorable was Bradley’s performance in the 2018 postseason. Despite offensive struggles from teammates, his three extra-base hits, including two go-ahead knocks and a grand slam, and nine RBI in the ALCS played a crucial role in Boston’s journey to the World Series, where he homered again, earning him series MVP honors.

After eight seasons with the Red Sox, Bradley entered free agency in November 2020, signing a two-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite being a Gold Glove finalist again in 2021, his stint with Milwaukee was brief. Boston reacquired him the following offseason, and he played an additional 91 games for the Red Sox. Released in early August, he swiftly joined the Toronto Blue Jays, contributing to a sweep against Boston upon his return to Fenway. At the end of the season, he was once again a Gold Glove finalist and spent his final season with the Kansas City Royals, playing 43 games before being released in June.