Jackie Bradley is hitting the ball to all fields with authority, and he's quickly become an essential part of the Red Sox outfield.
Of all the unexpected outcomes for the Red Sox in 2015, Jackie Bradley turning into a feared hitter during the season's second half is among the most surprising.
Last year, of course, Bradley fell flat on his face when he was handed a starting job in Boston. The extent of Bradley's offensive struggles had little historical precedent, with the young center fielder batting just .198/.265/.266 over 423 plate appearances. The scrutiny surrounding his poor play likely made things even more difficult for Bradley, whose coachability and work ethic even came into question by season's end.