Top 25 Returning Big 12 Baseball Players, No. 3: Cody Bradford, Baylor RHP
Yes, Bradford is done for the season. Unlike David Hamilton, who would have been No.7 on our list, Bradford made a return this season.
The Aledo, Texas native returned as the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and won the 2018 Big 12 Pitching Title. He scored Co-MVP of the 2018 Big 12 Tournament MVP and was named as the 2019 Preseason Pitcher of the Year. He left zero doubt on the field last year. The 6-foot-3, 195 pound lefty tossed back-to-back complete game shutouts against TCU and Kansas State in 2018.
In 96.2 innings, Bradford posted a sub 3.00 ERA and a sub 3 BB/9IP ratio. Additionally, he struck out more than eight batters per 9 innings. Bradford was, without a doubt, the best pitcher in the Big 12 in 2018. Sure, Janczak and Gingery went missing, but Bradford proved to be just as effective as both of them. Without Bradford, Baylor doesn’t make the NCAA Regionals during a rebuilding season. Without Bradfrod,Baylor doesn’t win the Big 12 Tournament Championshp.
Bradford was the glue that kept Baylor’s defense together. Now that he’s hurt, there is a big question. Does he return in 2020? Or does he take the money from the MLB Draft?
Here is the rest of the Top 25.
No. 25: Baylor 1B/C Shea Langeliers
No. 24: WVU Utility Tyler Doanes
No. 23: WVU IF Marques Inman
No. 22: Oklahoma State OF Trevor Boone
No. 21: Baylor OF Richard Cunningham
No. 20: Kansas State OF Will Brennan
No. 19: West Virginia OF Darius Hill
No. 18: TCU LHP Nick Lodolo
No. 17: OU RPH Nathan Wiles
No. 16: Oklahoma State OF Carson McCusker
No. 15: TCU OF Josh Watson
No. 14: Baylor IF Nick Loftin
No. 13: Texas Tech utility Brian Klein
No. 12: Oklahoma State C/OF Colin Simpson
No. 11: Kansas IF James Cosentino
No. 10: Oklahoma IF Brylie Ware
No. 9: Baylor IF Davis Wendzel
No. 8: Texas Tech RHP Caleb Kilian
No. 7: Texas RHP Donny Diaz
No. 6: Texas Tech IF/OF Gabe Holt
No. 5: TCU Pitcher Jared Janczak
No. 4: Texas IF Duke Ellis
**Sign up here for our HCS weekly e-mails for a chance to win FREE Heartland College Sports and Big 12 team gear!!**
