TRENTON, N.J. -- Of all the major league talent that has shared the cramped quarters of minor league clubhouses with Portland center fielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. this year, one player’s words have stuck with the young center fielder more than anyone else’s.
The message did not come from Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford or Ryan Sweeney, who all passed through Portland on rehab assignments last week, nor from Ryan Kalish, who began his rehab assignment with High-A Salem while Bradley was in the Carolina League. The speaker was Rich Hill, the veteran reliever who was in Salem on his way back from Tommy John surgery early this year.