Bradford makes big-league debut

From the time they first pick up a bat and a ball, just about every young baseball player dreams of the opportunity to play in the Major Leagues with their family and friends cheering them on from the stands.

For Aledo’s Cody Bradford, that dream became a reality on Monday night as he took the mound for the American League West Division-leading Texas Rangers in the series opener at Globe Life Field against the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves.

While his first big league start didn’t go as he hoped, the lanky left-hander displayed a fearless tenacity, even while facing some of the best hitters the game has to offer.

“He was ok,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said after the game. “I think it’s fair to say he made some mistakes, especially with his off-speed pitches. We had trouble keeping the ball in the ballpark tonight. He wasn’t giving up a lot of hits, but the ones he gave up did some damage.

It’s tough to debut against this club. But, he battled. He gave us five innings. It’s always good to get your first start. He’ll learn from this.”

Bradford’s trial by fire started with the first batter he faced. Before the first official pitch was thrown, the lefty hurler was sweating like a preacher at a tent revival in August. Ronald Acuna Jr. led off the game for the Braves in the midst of an MVP-caliber year through the first month of the season. Bradford took Acuna to a full count, but missed just a touch high with the 3-2 changeup away to lead off the game with a walk.

With the defense aligned to cover the right side of the infield, Bradford was able to get Matt Olsen to chop a grounder to Josh Jung for the 5-to-6-to-3 double play that helped the rookie get out of the first unscathed.

Bradford started off the second inning picking up the first major league strikeout of his career on a 2-2 fastball on the outer half that Marcell Ozuna couldn’t catch up with.

The next pitch he threw ended up being a slider down over the middle of the plate that Kevin Pillar sent sailing 411 feet into the bullpen to make it a 2-0 game.

As the lineup turned over at the top of the order later in the second inning with a runner on second and two outs, Acuna channeled his inner Tiger Woods to hit a two-run golf shot off a breaking ball below the zone that landed in the second deck 454 feet away as the Braves went up 4-0.

A credit to his grit in light of the towering shot sent out to the fans in their previous encounter, when Acuna stepped in the box in the top of the fifth, Bradford went right after him. With a runner on, Bradford sat Acuna down looking for the first out of the inning.

In total, Bradford threw five complete innings surrendering six runs on seven hits while walking a pair and striking out three Braves.

“A debut is never an easy time, because I’m sure [Bradford’s] got the nerves going,” Bochy surmised. “Especially against a good team. At times he executed his pitches very well. At times it just got away from him. When you’re facing a team like [the Braves], you’re probably not going to get away with too many mistakes.”

The Rangers called up Bradford for a spot start on Monday in order to give the rest of the rotation an extra day of rest following a lengthy road trip. Bradford has now been sent back to Round Rock, where he was named the Pacific Coast League’s Player of the Month for April. There is some speculation he may return to the big leagues before the All-Star break in July if he is able to return to form back in Triple-A.