Preseason All-American highlights talented, speedy outfield
Coming off an impressive freshman campaign, South Carolina's young outfielder went into his second season nursing a broken hand, raising questions on whether he'd managed to duplicate 2009's success.
Bradley managed to see snippets of playing time through the first six games before returning to the starting lineup in USC's 15-0 win over Presbyterian. From there, the onslaught was on.
Finishing the season with a .368 batting average, 13 home runs and 60 RBI, Bradley powered the Gamecocks through their bracket of the College World Series, and following their 2-1 win over UCLA to clinch the national title, was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Now, with the start of his junior year upon him, the expectations for the preseason All-American are as high as ever, but as the new leader of the outfield, few believe he'll fall short.
With the departure of Whit Merrifield, Bradley enters 2011 fully confident that he can captain Carolina's last line of defense.
"I definitely look at myself as the leader out there," Bradley said. "Not only [from] a class perspective but being a [center fielder]. Center field has mainly all the authority on the field; he can call off all infielders and outfielders as well."
Returning with a solid supporting cast around him, however, the junior believes his new duty will run smoothly.
"I like to lead by example, so that's mainly what I was doing before," Bradley said. "I guess now that Whit's gone, I have to be more vocal and tell the guys what things to do and what not to do, but they're smart kids. They pretty much know everything they need to know to play outfield."
Now in his third year as a Gamecock, the Prince George, Va., native still relishes his decision to move to Columbia as much as he did in his first.
"I came down here for the small things," Bradley said. "You drive around and people are letting you in, and I'm not used to do that. People usually cut you off in Virginia — not letting you get by. It really made me feel like I was at home, and just the whole atmosphere, when I'm watching football games. I felt like this was the perfect fit for me."
His stellar performance in Omaha, Neb., continues to be talked about as one of the best in recent years, but as any MVP does, Bradley put great focus on getting better during the offseason.
"I really wanted to improve on my speed," Bradley said. "I actually went to New York over Christmas break to work on my technique, getting faster and improving on my game speed, as well. Being able to get more balls in the outfield, my range has increased, and that's one of the main things I've been working on. I'm pretty excited to see what else I can do out there."
The junior comes into opening weekend not only considered one of the best players in college baseball but one of the top prospects for the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft. Although he remains aware of the occasion, Bradley is set on enjoying where he is right now.
"Of course it's in the back of my mind, but I'm not really focused on it," Bradley said. "I'm just out there trying to have some fun, and if everything goes the right way — God knows what He has in store. I'm just praying, and we'll see what happens."
Projected to play the roles around him are junior Adam Matthews and sophomore Evan Marzilli. Matthews, who started much of last year in left field, enters the new season fresh off a .307 batting average, 15 doubles and seven steals in 2010. Known primarily for his speed on the base paths, many predict Matthews to continue playing that part in 2011.
Marzilli, on the other hand, comes into opening weekend recovering from a hamstring injury, but he is widely expected to pick up where he left off last season. Playing mainly as a defensive-replacement for most of the year, the Rhode Island native found himself starting in left field in the postseason, quickly showing he deserved to stay there.
Batting leadoff, he rarely looked like a freshman, and he shined brightest with two hits and an RBI in game one of the finals.
If Carolina's outfield is to find success this year, however, it's safe to say that it begins and ends with the play of Bradley.
But rather than shy away from expectations for the season and his future as a whole, the Gamecocks' center fielder remains focused on the goals in front of him.
"There's no pressure at all," Bradley said. "Going from nothing to something, I just try to take it one day at a time and stay humble. I'm not putting any pressure on myself because I know what I have to do, and that's basically stay here at college and try to help my team move on to wins each day after another — the next win, the next day."