Mother of top Rays prospect continues special tradition for MLB debut
On Wednesday, Taj Bradley realized a lifelong dream when he made his Major League debut for the Tampa Bay Rays.
To help make the milestone even more special, Bradley's mother, Ana Mosley, was in attendance. It happened to be her birthday. Mosley called her son's debut the "best gift he could give." It also allowed her to carry on a tradition that began with Bradley's very first game.
In attendance at Tropicana Field, Mosley revealed to Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports that she has kept score for every one of her son's games.
The bond between Bradley and his mother is a strong one. In a recent Q&A with MLB.com's Joe Trezza, Bradley said his mother was the most significant off-the-field influence on his career.
"I'll always say it's her," Bradley said. "We moved to Atlanta when I was four, her and my two brothers, and it was just us for the longest time. Seeing how she raised us, how she kept her composure and the things she instilled in us to make us who we are today, it was huge."
The 22-year-old lived up to his status as the Rays' top pitching prospect on Wednesday, earning the win in a 9-7 Tampa Bay victory. Bradley allowed three earned runs on five hits while posting eight strikeouts over his five strong innings on the mound.
With this one in the books, Bradley became only the second pitcher since 1900 to debut for a team on a 10-plus game win streak, joining Mike McQueen of the Atlanta Braves in 1969, per ESPN Stats and Info.
The Rays improved to 12-0 after Wednesday's victory, continuing their scorching start to the 2023 campaign.
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