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FORT MYERS, FL (WACH) - Former Gamecock Jackie Bradley, Jr. has held a special place in the hearts of the South Carolina faithful for years, and soon he may take on the same meaning to Red Sox Nation.

Ever since Boston drafted Bradley in 2011, the outfielder has quickly risen through the organization's ranks, developing a reputation as a tireless worker with an outgoing personality who is mature beyond his 22 years.

Those intangible qualities combined with his physical gifts have Red Sox player development officials prepping Bradley for a future in Fenway Park's outfield.

Bradley is clearly making an impression, even though he is taking part in just his first major league spring training camp in Fort Myers.

"He wants to get to the big leagues. He wants to be an impact big-leaguer," Red Sox farm director Ben Crockett told The Boston Herald. "He's working on something at all times."

Despite the fact Boston is starting to buzz about Bradley, he is taking all the attention in stride with the same calm, humble demeanor that made him a favorite while playing with the Gamecocks.

"It's always just been stay focused, don't really feed into all of that," said Bradley. "The first year I was just trying to get back into the swing of things because I had just suffered an injury in college. This past year, my first full season, is when it really took off. It just kept coming and coming and coming."

Last year, in his first full season since being drafted, Bradley hit .359 in Class A-Salem before moving up to Double-A Portland, where he batted .271, but struggled at the plate in the final month of the season.

He will likely face similar challenges at Triple-A Pawtucket this coming season, but may be on the fast track to the bigs. Red Sox centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is due to be a free agent after the 2013 season, and it's very likely the franchise already has his replacement in Bradley.

While he is being touted as a top-line prospect who could very well be the future of a storied baseball franchise, Bradley's approach to the game is not changing.

"Just keep working because there's always someone else out there working just as hard as you," said Bradley. "As long as I'm better than I was the previous day, the ceiling just keeps going higher because I want to be the best."

(The Boston Herald contributed to this report.)