Jackie Bradley Jr. is keeping his playing career alive in unconventional fashion.

The longtime Red Sox outfielder has become the first MLB player to commit to playing in the Savannah Bananas’ league full time.

A 60-game Banana Ball Championship League is being launched in 2026 with six different teams, and Bradley Jr. was selected No. 1 overall in the draft by the Indianapolis Clowns.

The Indianapolis Clowns were a team in the Negro Leagues that once featured Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. Revived by the Bananas, Bradley told ESPN he was thrilled to be joining them.

“I feel like this was another opportunity to not only the league, but to be able to help the people behind me to … hopefully, catapult other African American ballplayers to want to play the game,” Bradley told ESPN.

Bradley first appeared in Banana Ball last summer, garnering a standing ovation at Fenway Park, and that’s what got the ball rolling.

A stellar defensive center fielder, Bradley played parts of nine seasons with the Red Sox, making the 2016 All-Star Game and winning a 2018 Gold Glove. He was a pivotal piece of the 2018 World Series team, winning ALCS MVP, and appeared in 964 regular season games with Boston.

Now 35, Bradley’s last major league appearance came with the Royals in 2023. Obviously still interested in playing baseball, would he consider a comeback if an MLB team expressed interest?

“If there’s an opportunity [to go back to the majors], I would obviously weigh that. If that’s for my family, then I’m not going to rule out any opportunities,” Bradley told ESPN. “But it’s not something that I’m striving for. I’m very content with how my career has unfolded. I’ve been truly blessed. I’m just enjoying the moment.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.