Bobby Bradley
Encyclopedia
Robert Leonard Bradley is a former minor league baseball
pitcher
.
Bradley attended Wellington Community High School in Wellington, Florida
, where he was named a High School All-American. He was chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates
with the eighth overall selection in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
. Though he signed a letter of intent
with Florida State University
, Bradley signed with the Pirates for a $2.3 million bonus.
Bradley participated in the All-Star Futures Game
in 2000. Prior to the 2001 season, Baseball America
rated Bradley as the #20 prospect in baseball.
However, Bradley suffered many injuries. He required arthroscopic surgery in June 2001, and missed the remainder of the season. Though he required Tommy John surgery
in October 2001 and missed the 2002 season as a result, he was nevertheless added to the 40 man roster following the season. He required surgery again in 2003. Bradley struggled when he reached Triple-A in 2005, and he was unconditionally released to make room on the roster for Zach Duke
. Bradley went to camp with the Florida Marlins
in 2006, but left after one day.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
.
Bradley attended Wellington Community High School in Wellington, Florida
Wellington, Florida
Wellington is a village in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. As of 2006, the village had a population of 55,584 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Wellington is part of the South Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, where he was named a High School All-American. He was chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
with the eighth overall selection in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
. Though he signed a letter of intent
Letter of intent
A letter of intent is a document outlining an agreement between two or more parties before the agreement is finalized. The concept is similar to a heads of agreement...
with Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, Bradley signed with the Pirates for a $2.3 million bonus.
Bradley participated in the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
in 2000. Prior to the 2001 season, Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
rated Bradley as the #20 prospect in baseball.
However, Bradley suffered many injuries. He required arthroscopic surgery in June 2001, and missed the remainder of the season. Though he required Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
in October 2001 and missed the 2002 season as a result, he was nevertheless added to the 40 man roster following the season. He required surgery again in 2003. Bradley struggled when he reached Triple-A in 2005, and he was unconditionally released to make room on the roster for Zach Duke
Zach Duke
Zachary Thomas Duke is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks...
. Bradley went to camp with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
in 2006, but left after one day.