About the Author

Originally from Texas, Joel Bradley earned high school letters in football and baseball and later basketball and baseball in college. In 1985, Joel moved to Miami, Florida and began coaching youth sports while working as a licensed futures professional. In 2002, Joel moved to Broward County, Florida and began teaching English at Deerfield Beach High School. While at Deerfield Beach, he became the school’s pitching coach and was instrumental in helping the Bucks to the first of two district baseball championships in school history. His development of two future major league pitchers—Mike Fiers (Brewers, Astros, Tigers, A’s) and Mickey Story (A’s, Astros, Blue Jays) during Deerfield’s 2002-2003 campaigns led to his recognition as a top pitching coach in south Florida.

 

Joel went on to help build programs at five other high schools, including a stop at Marjory Stoneman Douglass in 2007, where his work with a young left-handed pitcher, Anthony Rizzo, helped the Eagles to a district title. Joel’s expertise in player development was demonstrated in his success with other future Major Leaguers, most recently, Andy Painter, chosen 13th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2021 MLB draft. Joel’s success developing players and programs came to the attention of legendary international baseball scout, Fred Ferreira (Yankees, Reds, Expos, Marlins, Orioles), who introduced him to Orioles GM Dan Duquette.

 

Hired as an assistant with Baltimore in 2012, Joel later became one of two full-time international scouts for the Orioles from 2013-2018. His work in Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean resulted in the organization signing more than 40 players during his tenure. Joel’s involvement in international baseball markets brought to his attention serious issues facing baseball outside the United States. His creative solution to under-the-table dealing between teams and agents using “player option contracts” is a timely answer for transparency; he also has proposed a self-governing association of baseball academies and trainers (BAAT) in the Dominican Republic to assist in international player development and address the lack of oversight governing academies; his leadership on a commission formed by Robin Bernstein, former US Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, to assist in addressing serious issues of doping and education affecting youngsters in that country was instrumental in bringing together top baseball voices and government officials.

 

Ultimately, Joel’s passion for the game and his ability to use baseball as a conduit to challenge players on the field while engaging casual fans off the field led him to the development of 7-Player Baseball. He believes the 7-Player game answers two important questions facing baseball today; baseball’s aging demographic; an overreliance of professionals using data analytics in player development. Joel continues his pursuit of using baseball to make communities better. He is the proud father of two sons and two granddaughters