By: Jeremy Lawless

The Cleveland Indians officially DFA’d Jakes Bauers and called up Bobby Bradley on Saturday. This is Bradley’s second time with the Big League club and first time since 2019. When asked how he was feeling Bradley responded “It feels like being called up for the first time all over again”.

Bobby Bradley is a polarizing prospect for the Indians. He has been known for his power from the left side for years, but hasn’t been able to break through to his opportunity. Most of that was due to Carlos Santana being on the roster prior to 2021. When the club announced that they would not be picking up the club-option for Santana in 2021, Bradley went to work. He successfully dropped 30 pounds and showed up to Spring Training in the best shape of his life. And he produced.

In 33 Spring at-bats “The Assassin” slashed .303/.316/.523 with a .951 OPS. He led the Cactus League early and often in RBI’s and had 5 doubles with 2 HR’s. But, before camp broke for the season, he was notified he would begin the year at the Alternate Training site before reporting to the Columbus Clippers, the Indians AAA-level Affiliate.

“The Assassin” struggled. Both at the plate and mentally in Columbus. How could this happen? He successfully accomplished everything that was asked of him to earn an opportunity with the Indians. Instead he sat and watched the combination of Yu Chang and Jake Bauers struggle to produce really anything beneficial for the club.

The Indians had to make a change.

So they called for #44.

In his first plate appearance for the Indians, Bobby looked like a different player than 2019. The Orioles set up away trying to get Bradley into poor “pull ball” swings and misses. But Bobby did something the Indians have to be excited about. He patiently fouled off the outside pitches and waited for them to make a mistake, and they did. They missed inside and BB hit a ground ball through the shift that somehow made it all the way to the wall in right. A double.

On Sunday, Bradley started at first base and hit 8th in the lineup. He ended up being the only thing to pay attention to, as the Indians got blown out. Bobby did not disappoint. He ended up going 3 for 4 with a single, Double and a Homerun, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI’s in the 18-5 loss at Camden Yards.

Lets compare Bobby’s 5 AB production numbers to Jake Bauers’ 100 AB’s

Homeruns:

BB: 1

JB: 2

Doubles:

BB: 2

JB: 3

RBI:

BB:3

JB: 6

Runs Scored:

BB: 3

JB: 7

Jake Bauers by all accounts is a fantastic person and I wish him the best in his life and career. At the end of the day for me, its about measurable production. Bauers had every chance to produce and did not get it done as illustrated above. The time came to call upon “The Assassin”. He’s here, and the SUPER early return has been huge. I believe that Bradley will take this opportunity and run with it and be the Indians (or whatever they will be called) first baseman for the foreseeable future.