Jackie Bradley Jr. expected to make the Royals Opening Day roster, Josh Taylor optioned to Triple-A
Jackie Bradley Jr. joined the Royals organization on a minor league pact in March, now he has made their Opening Day roster. The former Red Sox outfielder is expected to make the Royals Opening Day roster after having an impressive spring, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Bradley Jr., has slashed .385/.385/.962 with 10 hits, one homer, four RBIs in 26 at-bats.
The former Red Sox outfielder will turn 33 in April split time with Boston and Toronto last season. Bradley Jr. played 131 games, 91 with the Sox and 40 with the Blue Jays. He hit a mere .203 with four homers, 38 RBIs and posted a .566 OPS.
The left-handed hitter was designated for assignment after Boston acquired Tommy Pham from the Reds at the trade deadline.
Josh Taylor will not make the Royals Opening Day roster. The former Red Sox left-hander was optioned to Triple-A. Taylor missed all of last season with the Red Sox with a back injury.
This spring, he has allowed three earned runs in 7 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts.
“For Josh Taylor and Lovelady, [the message] is keep doing what you’re doing,” manager Matt Quatraro said to reporters, including Anne Rogers of MLB.com. “Keep building arm strength. Keep pitching, with both of those guys coming off a full missed year.”
Kansas City acquired Taylor after trading Adalberto Mondesí to Boston in January.
The Royals had targeted Taylor the last couple of seasons and jumped at the opportunity to acquire him this offseason.
“That’s a player we’ve tried to acquire in the past,” Royals general manager and executive vice president J.J. Picollo said. “It’s a very good depth piece for us to have and it creates a lot of competition in our bullpen. ... It allows us to put a bullpen together that can lock down any lead that we have after the sixth inning.”
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