Aug. 16, 2011
Georgia Tech junior Jed Bradley agreed to terms with the Milwaukee Brewers late Monday night, signing a professional contract and ending his three-year career with the Yellow Jackets.
The left-handed pitcher was selected 15th overall in June’s 2011 MLB First-Year player draft, becoming just the third Tech pitcher ever to be selected in the first round, joining Deck McGuire — who was picked 11th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays last season – and former hurler Kevin Brown. Brown was taken seventh overall by the Texas Rangers in 1986.
He agreed to a signing bonus of $2 million with the Brewers before the midnight deadline.
“I am very excited for Jed,” head coach Danny Hall said. “It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. “He worked his tail off from where he came from, not being recruited much to becoming a first round draft choice and signing for $2 million, so I am extremely excited for him and his family. He gave us a lot here in his three years at Georgia Tech, and set a great example for everyone, not only on the field but also off the field.”
The Huntsville, Ala. native held an 18-11 career record on the Flats, striking out 254 batters in 234.0 innings. His 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings rank 10th all-time in the Georgia Tech record books. He earned All-ACC second team honors in both 2010 and 2011.
“It’s two years in a row we’ve had a pitcher go in the first round and I think that says a lot not only about our recruiting but also the development of our pitching staff with [assistant] coach [Tom] Kinkelaar,” Hall added. “Deck [McGuire] wasn’t drafted out of high school and Jed wasn’t drafted out of high school, so for those two guys to go in the first round, coach Kinkelaar has put a lot of time and effort into them.”
Bradley is one of five Yellow Jackets to sign a professional contract following the 2011 season. Juniors Matt Skole (5th Rd., Washington), Mark Pope (5th Rd., San Diego) and Jacob Esch (11th Rd., Florida), and senior Kevin Jacob (31st Rd., St. Louis) all inked contracts prior to August.
Three incoming freshmen elected to forgo their college careers and sign pro contracts as well. They were Dwight Smith Jr. (Compensation A, Toronto), Jake Burnette (7th Rd., Pittsburgh) and Tyler Gibson (15th Rd., Detroit).
Cole Pitts (32nd Rd., Cleveland), A.J. Murray (48th Rd., Houston) and Charles Sheffield (49th Rd., Oakland) did not sign a contract as Tech will welcome seven newcomers to the Flats this fall.
“When you lose incoming guys it hurts, but its part of the process. You wish them well but you then turn your focus to what you have here, and we have some good players and we are excited about getting them back on campus so we can start working with them.
“We have 30 really good players right now and the ones that are here have a chance to do a lot of great things, not only this year but in the future of Georgia Tech as well. We are excited to get them back to school next week and hopefully start building together a championship caliber team.”
2011-12 NEWCOMERS
Andrew Murray
C/OF | R/R | 6-2 | 215 | Westfield, N.J. (Westfield)
Connor Lynch
C | R/R | 6-0 | 185 | Marietta, Ga. (Pope)
Josh Heddinger
RHP | R/R | 6-5 | 220 | Suwanee, Ga. (Buford)
Cole Pitts
RHP | R/R | 6-6 | 192 | Moultrie, Ga. (Colquitt County)
Michael Hodorowski
OF | R/R | 5-11 | 165 | Acworth, Ga. (Harrison)
Charles Sheffield
INF/OF | R/R | 6-3 | 190 | Columbus, Ga. (Columbus)
Cameron Gibson
OF | R/R | 6-1 | 175 | Conyers, Ga. (Salem)
