Silverado High grad Bradford back with 51s, eyes spot in big leagues

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Saturday, April 11, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Chase Bradford is back this spring with the hometown Las Vegas 51s, but the Silverado High product might not finish the year with the minor league team.

If the right-handed relief pitcher continues to progress, and continues getting ground ball outs with his sinker, he could be in line for his first promotion to the big leagues.

“Chase is definitely going to pitch in the big leagues,” said Wally Backman, the former New York Mets second baseman who manages the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas.

“He has a power sinker with a swing-and-miss slider,” Backman continued. “Some of the guys who are here, it is unfortunate because of what is (ahead of them) in the big leagues right now. Chase pitched well in spring training. He faced major league hitters and did a good job. He’ll get an opportunity.”

An opportunity is all the 25-year-old Bradford needs. Take his path to the 51s, who opened the season this week and play their home opener April 17 at Cashman Field.

He was a 35th-round selection of the Mets in 2011 during his senior season at Central Florida. Low-round draft picks with no remaining college eligibility don’t receive big signing bonuses and usually don’t get many chances to impress once they are in the minor league system.

Bradford has made the most of his chance, posting a career 2.83 earned run average with 205 strikeouts in 226 minor league innings. Last season, he went 3-2 with five saves in 34 appearances with Las Vegas, striking out 41 batters in 46 innings.

He was in contention for a bullpen spot in spring training, but was sent to Las Vegas to continue his development.

“From where I came from, it is awesome,” Bradford said of his rise through the Mets system. “Being a senior signee, even making it to Triple-A is awesome. The Mets have afforded me a great opportunity. Hopefully I can capitalize on it.”

He held his own against big-league hitters in spring training, striking out Jarrod Saltalamacchia of Miami, and retiring the New York Yankees’ Mark Teixeira and Carlos Beltran. He went into camp as a nonroster invitee and showed the Mets he’s a reliable option in relief.

Bradford spent most of the offseason at Silverado training. His focus was becoming stronger — both physically and with endurance.

“I have always been a pretty strong guy. But last year there were times when I was throwing two or three innings, and I would just run out of gas ,” Bradford said. “I tried to work on my endurance, and keeping my pitch counts down to get ground balls like I am supposed to.”

Bradford and his power sinker will be getting those grounders in Las Vegas to start the season. Playing in his hometown is something Bradford, whose family is a fixture at Cashman Field, doesn’t take for granted.

“It’s kind of cool to think 20 years ago I was watching games here. Now I am here playing,” he said. “Obviously, it is not where I want to start the season. The dream is always to be in the big leagues, helping the Mets get to a World Series and win a World Series. But this isn’t a bad deal either, being at home in front of family.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21