Best of the best: Bradley Jr. earns MLB All-Star Game start

Former South Carolina star Jackie Bradley Jr. is set to make his debut in the Midsummer Classic.

The Red Sox outfielder has been named a starter for the American League in the MLB All-Star Game, which will be played July 12 at San Diego’s Petco Park.

Bradley Jr. will be the first former South Carolina player to start the MLB All-Star game since Brian Roberts did so in 2005 and the first former Gamecock to be named an all-star since Roberts in 2007.

The 26-year-old is in his fourth season in the majors and is having by far his most productive year.

After spending his first three years bouncing back-and-forth between the minor leagues and MLB, Bradley Jr. entered Tuesday night’s game hitting .294 with 20 doubles, six triple, 13 home runs and 53 RBIs in 78 games.

He has already set career highs in doubles, triples, homers and RBIs.

Bradley Jr. spent three seasons at South Carolina and put together an incredibly productive career.

He was named a consensus Freshman All-American in 2009 before helping the Gamecocks to back-to-back national titles in 2010-11. In 2010 he was named the Most Outstanding Player at the College World Series.

The Virginia native was drafted No. 40 overall by the Boston Red Sox after his junior season in 2011 and quickly worked his way up the minor league ranks, making his MLB debut two years later.

This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Best of the best: Bradley Jr. earns MLB All-Star Game start."