[1] Undrafted out of high school, Bradford attended Baylor University to play college baseball for the Bears.
Bradford appeared in 15 games for Baylor in his freshman season of 2017; posting a 5–5 record with a 5.52 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 73+1⁄3 innings.
[2] Bradford appeared in two games for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod League in 2018, posting a 2.25 ERA over 8 innings.
[3][4] Bradford was named to the 2018 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; posting a 1–0 record with a 0.00 ERA and 5 strikeouts over 5 innings.
[20] On May 15, 2023, the Rangers selected Bradford’s contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time to start that day against the Atlanta Braves.
[22] In 20 games (8 starts) during his rookie campaign, he compiled a 4–3 record and 5.30 ERA with 51 strikeouts across 56 innings pitched.
[24] However, the injury was revealed to be a rib stress fracture on April 26,[25] and Bradford was transferred to the 60–day injured list on May 23.