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SAL1 Greenville Drive

Former Gamecocks Standout Jackie Bradley, Jr. Joins Drive

September 1, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - With five games remaining in the 2011 South Atlantic League regular season and a third-straight trip to the postseason on the line, the Drive received one of the Boston Red Sox top selections in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft today. Former University of South Carolina standout Jackie Bradley, Jr., who was taken with the 40th overall pick, was promoted from the Lowell Spinners (Short-A) of the New York-Penn League.

Bradley, Jr. joins the Drive in Hickory, NC where they begin a five-game series with the Crawdads at L.P. Frans Stadium. Appearing in six games with the Spinners after signing right before the deadline, Bradley, Jr. hit .190 (4-for-21) with five runs scored. The 21-year-old outfielder recorded his first professional hit on August 24th versus Tri-City, a game in which he was 2-for-3 and scored a pair of runs.

As a junior for the Gamecocks baseball team in 2011, Bradley, Jr. was named to the All-SEC Defensive Team, the second straight year in which he received that honor. During his three-year career at the University of South Carolina, he hit .331 (218-for-659) with 30 homers, 133 RBI, and became the 24th player in school history to record 200 or more hits.

During his sophomore year in 2010, Bradley, Jr. led the Gamecocks with a .368 (89-for-242) average, and was named both the Most Outstanding Player and to the All-Tournament Team at the College World Series where South Carolina won their first National Championship. The Gamecocks successfully defended their title in 2011, becoming just the ninth repeat champion in College World Series history, and first since Oregon State (2006 and 2007).

No stranger to Greenville, Bradley, Jr. played in four games at the Drive's home stadium - Fluor Field - during his collegiate career. He amassed a .412 (7-for-17) average with two home runs, six RBI, and six runs scored, as well as collecting two doubles in those games, which included a pair of victories over archrival, the Clemson Tigers.

With the Drive, as well as the Augusta GreenJackets, Asheville Tourists, and Rome Braves all in contention for the Southern Division's second playoff spot, fans will now play the waiting game to see if postseason baseball returns to Fluor Field for the third straight season. The Savannah Sand Gnats are currently in 1st place with a 1.0 game lead over Augusta, while the Drive and Tourists are tied for 3rd place 2.0 games behind the Sand Gnats. Rome is 5.0 games out of 1st place.

Having already won the Southern Division's 1st half crown, should the Sand Gnats claim it once again the Drive would advance to the playoffs as the Wild Card, having already locked up the Southern Division's next best overall record. Tickets for all potential playoff games at Fluor Field - September 7, 15-17 - are currently on sale and can be purchased by visiting the Fluor Field Box Office, calling charge-by-phone at (864) 240-4528, or by logging onto www.GreenvilleDrive.com.

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