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By Mark Brock
Former Redan Raider pitcher Taj Bradley wrapped up an excellent month of July for the Tampa Bay Rays, earning Major League Baseball’s (MLB) American League (AL) Pitcher of the Month honors.
Bradley, a 2018 graduate of Redan High School, finished 3-1 in five starts during July with a sterling 1.45 earned run average over 31 innings on the mound for the Rays. He had 31 strikeouts and just eight walks over the five games and hitters were swinging at just a .160 batting average against the second-year starter.
During the five game stretch he put together 24 scoreless innings, including a stretch of 20 innings over three starts allowing no runs and just seven hits. His earned runs allowed totaled just five over the 31 inning span. He has 15 starts on the mound for the Rays in 2024.
Bradley debuted for the Rays in his first major league start on May 18, 2023, going five innings in a no decision against the New York Mets. He finished the season 5-8 with 129 strikeouts against just 39 walks in 104 2/3 innings in 21 starts.
Bradley is following in the footsteps of former Redan MLB All-Stars Brandon Phillips (infield), Dominic Brown (outfield) and Wally Joyner (first baseman).
Mark Brock is the DeKalb County School District’s Athletics Specialist.