Bobby Bradley Overcomes Slow Start At Double-A

For the first time in his four years in the Indians system, first baseman Bobby Bradley did not lead his league in home runs and RBIs.

But he didn’t miss by much.

At Double-A Akron, Bradley finished second in the Eastern League with 89 RBIs and sixth in home runs with 23. He also improved his strikeout rate from 29.7 percent in 2016 to 22.9 percent in 2017.

On the negative side, Bradley’s OPS has decreased each season, counting his career-low .796 this year. But the 21-year-old lefthanded hitter has made a steady climb through the organization.

“He got into a rut early in the season, but he worked hard, and by the end of the year he had become very consistent, and the numbers were there,” general manager Mike Chernoff said.

A 2014 third-rounder out of high school in Mississippi, Bradley quickly adapted to pro ball. In 2014 he led the Rookie-level Arizona League with eight homers and 50 RBIs. At low Class A Lake County in 2015 he led the Midwest League with 27 homers and 92 RBIs. At high Class A Lynchburg in 2016 he led the Carolina League with 29 homers and 102 RBIs.

In his first exposure to Double-A this year, Bradley struggled, hitting .176 in April while striking out 28 times in 68 at-bats.

“His mental toughness, work ethic and preparation never wavered,” Chernoff said.

In May and June, Bradley hit a combined .291 with nine homers and 36 RBIs. By the end of the year, his numbers argued for a promotion to Triple-A Columbus next year.

But first Bradley is spending time in the Arizona Fall League, where he struggled initially. His numbers aren’t as important to the Indians as showing progress in all areas.

“We just want to see continued development from him as a hitter and (also) defensively,” Chernoff said. “He’s so young, that to already be in Double-A this year is a good indicator of his evolution as a player.”