Baseball Profiles: Miah Bradbury waited, then got drafted by the Miami Miracle

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Miah Bradbury waited, then got drafted by the Miami Miracle

Miah Bradbury turned down a good offer from the Phillies after after being taken in the sixth round of the 1989 draft following his junior year at Loyola Marymount, The Los Angeles Times wrote.

Then, after his senior year, he got drafted again, this time in the fifth round - by the independent high-A Miami Miracle, a team that had won a chance to draft players directly like the major league clubs, The Times wrote.

"I believe things happen for a reason," a shocked Bradbury told The Times. "If that's where I'm meant to play this summer, I'll just go out and play."

Bradbury did go out and play. The next year he also moved to affiliated ball, in his third season. His career lasted four seasons in all. He topped out at AA.

Bradbury's career began that year, taken by the Miami Miracle in the fifth round out of Loyola Marymount.

With Loyola Marymount in 1989, Bradbury spoke to The Times about his desire to turn pro.

"I'd like to give it a shot," Bradbury told The Times. "You know, ever since you're a little kid you want to play pro ball. So it's time to go out and start playing it."

With Miami, Bradbury saw 50 games and hit .210. He then returned to Miami for 1991 and hit .272 over 109 games.

For 1992, he moved to affiliated ball with Seattle. He played the season at high-A Peninsula. That July, he spoke to The Times about his opportunity with the Mariners, his excitement.

"When the Mariners called, it was almost like getting drafted again, only better," Bradbury told The Times. "They gave me a new lease on my baseball career. Finally, I was going to play for an organization. Finally, I was going to have an opportunity to play for advancement . . ."

Bradbury hit .280 in 111 games with Peninsula. He then moved to the Expos system and AA Harrisburg for 1993. He saw nine games there to end his career.