Why Tucker Bradley opted to sign with MLB’s KC Royals instead of returning to UGA

If Tucker Bradley’s name was called during the five-round MLB draft, he was signing a professional contract without doubt. He watched the last selection come and go, however, and a 48-hour dead period felt endless as uncertainty churned through his head.

Bradley admired his time as Georgia’s star outfielder and enjoyed every moment to play for head coach Scott Stricklin — who tabbed Bradley as a big-league talent while recruiting him out of Gordon Lee High School. A return to Foley Field for another go-round at a College World Series berth had upside, but fulfilling a dream always shows its luster.

Once 8 o’clock came on the morning of June 12, organizations could call Bradley. His mind had to be at peace by then.

“There were points where I was leaning toward going back to Georgia,” Bradley said in a phone interview with The Telegraph shortly after sharing his news. “There were points where I said ‘I’m gone.’ I went back and forth the entire time.”

Baseball has been Bradley’s true love from the moment he put on his first uniform. He became a member of the Chickamauga Yankees and built his baseball foundations in small-town northwest Georgia. When in the batter’s box, it felt like swinging alongside Derek Jeter in Yankee Stadium. He saw the greats as legends, and wanted his crack at reaching that same level.

The post-draft Sunday morning became that moment.

He had about eight teams call with their pitches and a $20,000 signing bonus — the maximum bonus permitted to undrafted free agents due to the shortened draft — and Bradley had a gut feeling that it was his “time to go.” He wanted to decide on a team by day’s end, and the Kansas City Royals became the franchise of choice.

The Royals had been attracted to Bradley through the draft process, so it felt like a perfect match. He appreciated the gesture by general manager Dayton Moore to continue to pay all minor leaguers, despite a season being very likely to be eliminated due to COVID-19.

“I’d always heard how loyal they were,” Bradley said. “That was my biggest thing, to see that they had a good culture and treat the minor leaguers with respect.”

Bradley flew to Kansas City over the weekend and signed his contract Tuesday after undergoing a series of physicals. Bradley became one of six prospects to sign with the Royals, along with two other SEC products — LSU catcher Saul Garza and Tennessee pitcher Chase Wallace. Bradley isn’t sure what his next step is, but hopes for instructional leagues to take place during the fall.

Bradley opted to make the jump after a shortened junior season at Georgia. He missed most of the 2019 season with a torn labrum, but regained a childlike joy for the game after erupting as the Bulldogs’ star. Stricklin threw around the term “big leaguer” once more and Bradley lived up to those expectations. Bradley hit .397 with six home runs — doubling his previous career total of three — and served as the closer in an abbreviated 18-game stretch in which Georgia went 14-4.

Throughout his college career, Bradley thought his dreams could be realized. His freshman year, which began with a struggle, featured a change in approach during SEC play. Everything suddenly flipped and the outfielder caught up with the challenges of Division I baseball. Bradley knew more steps could be taken, eventually resulting in a professional opportunity.

“I realized I belonged there and the light came on,” Bradley said. “I knew I could make it.”

Bradley holds plenty of pride in his college career. He was close to giving it one more go-around to hear his name called in 2021. Georgia would’ve gladly had him back, but a new uniform fulfills what the first one always meant.

“Coach Stricklin has let me know that I’m a big league talent,” Bradley said. “It’s up to me what to do with that.”

This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 7:47 AM.