JBJ on Opening Day: Two-Time World Series Champion Jackie Bradley Junior to Inaugurate WooSox '25 with Ceremonial First Pitch March 28
WORCESTER, MA –– Jackie Bradley, Jr., the Gold-Glove-winning Most Valuable Player of the 2018 American League Championship Series who helped the Red Sox win their past two World Series Championships, will be honored at Polar Park on Opening Day, Friday, March 28, at 3:05 p.m., with a Ceremonial First Pitch.
WORCESTER, MA –– Jackie Bradley, Jr., the Gold-Glove-winning Most Valuable Player of the 2018 American League Championship Series who helped the Red Sox win their past two World Series Championships, will be honored at Polar Park on Opening Day, Friday, March 28, at 3:05 p.m., with a Ceremonial First Pitch. The popular and gifted centerfielder known as “JBJ” will be making his first visit to the home of the Worcester Red Sox, who begin their fifth season by hosting the Syracuse Mets.
“Jackie Bradley, Jr. is among the nicest, kindest, classiest gentlemen I’ve had the pleasure of working with in my career,” said WooSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg, “We are thrilled to show him our happy little ballpark, and we are even more thrilled to let him feel the appreciation of the Central Mass chapter of Red Sox Nation. He contributed mightily with his bat, glove, and heart to the happiness we have experienced going back a dozen years.”
Bradley’s rookie year was 2013, when the Red Sox experienced their third World Championship season in 10 years. Five years later, they beat the Houston Astros to win the American League Pennant and the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the World Series. In the ALCS, Bradley hit a 2-run homer, a 3-run double, and a grand slam to drive in nine runs and capture the MVP Award. After the season, he won a Rawlings Gold Glove Award for his outstanding defense in centerfield.
Jackie, who will turn 35 on April 19, is a Virginia native who starred at the University of South Carolina where he led the Gamecocks to back-to-back College Baseball World Series Championships in 2010 and 2011. In 2010 he was named College World Series Most Outstanding Player.
Chosen by the Red Sox with the 40th overall pick in the 2011 First Year Player Draft, Jackie made Boston’s Opening Day roster in 2013. He would spend parts of nine seasons with the Red Sox (2013-2020, 2022) and parts of four seasons with the Pawtucket Red Sox (2013-15, 2017). With Boston he wore uniform #25 from 2013-16 and switched to #19 in 2017 when Koji Uehara left the club.
Bradley also played in the majors with Milwaukee (2021), Toronto (2022), and Kansas City (2023) appearing in 1182 big league games overall. He was an American League All-Star with the Red Sox in 2016. Jackie played for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets last August and September.
Although not officially retired, Jackie has spent this off-season at home in Florida with his wife Erin and their four young children who are all under the age of nine.
The WooSox open their fifth season at Polar Park on Friday, March 28, against the Syracuse Mets at 3:05 p.m. UniBank Fireworks set to “Baseball Classics” follow the game. Tickets can be purchased at woosox.com, the Polar Park Ticket Office, or by calling (508) 500-8888.
Zavala’s Go-Ahead Homer Lifts WooSox to Win Over RailRiders
MOOSIC, PA — Seby Zavala broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the ninth with a go-ahead homer to power the Worcester Red Sox (26-26) to a 5-4 win over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (23-27) on Wednesday at PNC Field. With the bases empty and one down in the ninth,
Janet Marie Smith to Headline WooSox' 4th Annual "UniBank Women in Sports Day" Saturday, June 7
WORCESTER, MA — On Saturday, June 7, the Worcester Red Sox will present their fourth annual “UniBank Women in Sports Day” celebrations at Polar Park that were snowed out on Saturday, April 12. The team hosts the Rochester Red Wings (Triple-A, Washington Nationals) at 4:05 p.m. The WooSox will host
WooSox Fall to Bulls in Extra Innings
WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Red Sox (22-24) fell to the Durham Bulls (29-18) in ten innings by a 7-4 final on Wednesday night at Polar Park. The game was scoreless until top of the fourth. With two down and two aboard, Jamie Westbrook poked a two-run single to right
Forecast for Steady, Heavy All-Day Rain Forces Postponement of Tomorrow (Thursday) Morning's WooSox Game at Polar Park
WORCESTER, MA – With steady, heavy rain and winds forecasted throughout the early morning and all day tomorrow (a New England Nor’easter), Thursday morning’s “School Kids” game between the visiting Durham Bulls and the homestanding Worcester Red Sox at Polar Park has been postponed. The clubs will play a single-admission
Garcia Hits First Triple-A Homer, Anthony Goes Deep in Win Over Durham
WORCESTER, M.A. – Roman Anthony and Jhostynxon Garcia each homered to lead the Worcester Red Sox (22-23) to a series-opening 8-2 victory over the Durham Bulls (28-18) at Polar Park on Tuesday night. The WooSox struck moments into the offensive night against Durham starter Joe Boyle. After the first two
Ballou on Baseball - May 20, 2025
By Bill Ballou Player development is like Tiramisu. The recipe differs from restaurant to restaurant or in baseball, from team to team. As the Boston Red Sox bumper-car their way through the early part of the 2025 season, sentiment — at least from outside the organization — grows for them
Thompson Slams Solo Homer, WooSox Drop Road Trip Finale
BUFFALO, NY — Despite a solo home run Trayce Thompson, the Worcester Red Sox (21-23) dropped the series and road trip finale to the Buffalo Bisons (17-26) by an 8-4 final at Sahlen Field. The WooSox went 5-7 on the two-week, 12-game road trip, and they split the six-game series
Sikes Socks Two Homers, WooSox Win Big in Buffalo
BUFFALO, NY — Thanks to a dominant offensive performance, the Worcester Red Sox (21-21) demolished the Buffalo Bisons (15-26) by a 10-3 final at Sahlen Field on Friday night. Phillip Sikes (2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB) belted his first two Triple-A homers. The WooSox mashed 12 hits,
Hickey Homers, WooSox Fall 12-1 in Buffalo
WORCESTER, M.A. – For the first time this week, the Worcester Red Sox (20-21) fell to the Buffalo Bisons (15-25), a 12-1 loss on Thursday night at Sahlen Field. Nathan Hickey delivered the lone WooSox run of the night, a 422-foot solo shot to right-center in the fifth. The swing
Hickey Homers Again, WooSox Win Second Straight in Buffalo
BUFFALO, NY — The Worcester Red Sox (20-20) scored five runs in the fifth inning to come from behind for the second-straight game to beat the Buffalo Bison (14-25) 8-4 on Wednesday night at Sahlen Field. Buffalo opened the scoring with a two-run homer from Davis Schneider in the bottom
Mayer Caps Off Six-Run Comeback With Game-Winning Homer
WORCESTER, M.A. – The Worcester Red Sox (19-20) erased an eighth inning six run deficit to stun the Buffalo Bisons (14-24) on Tuesday night, a 10-7 win thanks to three late home runs at Sahlen Field. The WooSox trailed 7-5 entering the top of the ninth, facing Buffalo closer Tommy
WooSox Suffer First Shutout Loss, Fall 6-0 to IronPigs
ALLENTOWN, PA — The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (27-12) clinched a series win over the Worcester Red Sox (18-20) thanks to a 6-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park. The game was scoreless until Garrett Stubbs hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to give Lehigh Valley
Hickey Hammers Grand Slam, WooSox Fall in Walk-Off Fashion
ALLENTOWN, PA — The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (25-12) earned a walk-off win over the Worcester Red Sox (18-18) on Friday night at Coca-Cola Park, beating the WooSox by a 5-4 final. With a runner on second base in the bottom of the ninth, Garrett Stubbs laid down a bunt, and
WooSox Rally Late for Come-From-Behind Victory Over IronPigs
ALLENTOWN, PA — Thanks to a four-run eighth inning, the Worcester Red Sox (18-16) came from behind and beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (23-12) 6-4 on Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Park. Trailing 4-2 going into the eighth inning, the WooSox scored four runs to take a 6-4 lead. Roman Anthony
Ballou on Baseball - May 7, 2025
By Bill Ballou Minor league records are rarely broken these days because players who are on a pace to break records generally get promoted. That will likely be the case with WooSox infielder Marcelo Mayer, who had 34 RBIs through the season’s first 32 games. That projects to more than
Sabol Homers Twice, WooSox Beat IronPigs 6-4 in Extras
ALLENTOWN, PA — The Worcester Red Sox (17-16) – coming off a season-high 13-game homestand – began their two-week road trip with an extra-innings victory on Tuesday at Coca-Cola Park, topping the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (23-11) by a 6-4 final in 10 innings. Blake Sabol hit two homers, a solo