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For Cody Bradford, the dream of joining his hometown team in the major leagues came true with the Texas Rangers. It wasn’t exactly the picture-perfect start he might have envisioned against the Atlanta Braves, but the left-hander has a solid support system behind him, none more so than his wife, Madi O’Neal.
She’s a very supportive wife and former athlete for the Baylor Bears-a commonality of sacrifice and discipline with her husband that only an athlete could offer. Since they started, O’Neal has been here every step of the way and has become an unshakable pillar of support to Bradford, offering inspiration through success and hard times.
Bradford’s rise to the major leagues has not been smooth. An athlete, like many, had his share of injuries that needed extensive therapy and hard training to recover from in order for him to pursue his goals. Through such times, O’Neal has been his rock, offering support both emotionally and practically while he was going through the grueling process of rehabilitation. Her presence has been one of strength as it helped him to keep focused and motivated even in the face of setbacks.
O’Neal was in attendance to support Bradford during his highly-anticipated MLB debut. The whole event may not have gone exactly as the couple would have wished, but her being present in the stands spoke volumes about the belief she has in her husband’s abilities. The love and support speak to their deep bond and to the shared commitments they have for one another.
Madi O’Neal is so much more than just a wife to Cody Bradford. She’s a fellow athlete who understands the pressure and sacrifice required to compete in professional sports. She’s been a partner to stand with him through the injuries, the setbacks, the practical support, and emotional. She’s his biggest cheerleader-celebrating along with him and offering steady encouragement when times get tough. And without a doubt, her presence has gone a long way to propelling Bradford through his major league career.
Madi O’Neal’s Family
Madison “Madi” O’Neal was born on March 3, 1998, and hails from Huffman, Texas. Her parents are Missy Hughes O’Neal and Dustin O’Neal.
She grew up with at least three siblings. Moreover, one of her brothers, Lincoln O’Neal, is also a baseball player. Lincoln O’Neal and their other brother, Grant O’Neal, reside in Destin, Florida.
Madi O’Neal’s Education and Career
Madi O’Neal attended Hargrave High School and was an outstanding athlete. She played four years of varsity softball while balancing academics and yearbook, including being a National Honor Society member and volunteering on a mission trip to Guatemala.
O’Neal graduated in 2016 after committing to Baylor University. While on the softball team from 2017 to 2018, she made it to the Dean’s List and was named Academic All-Big 12. She also served as the chair of the annual Golden Bruisers Award Show.
In 2019, O’Neal earned a BBA in Entrepreneurship and Sustaining Corporate Innovation. After college, she worked part-time as a substitute teacher with Frontline Education. She also managed customer relations at Dry Earth One.
From 2021 to 2022, O’Neal worked with Oracle in Austin, Texas. She started in customer experience applications and later as a solutions engineer.
Madi O’Neal also holds several certifications as a substitute teacher. She also is certified to administer first aid treatments.
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Madi O’Neal and Cody Bradford’s Relationship
Cody Bradford grew up in Aledo, Texas. His parents are Randy and Debbie Bradford, who supported his baseball career.
Bradford graduated from Aledo High School as valedictorian and later attended Baylor. While there, he played in the 2017 and 2018 college seasons. But he missed most of the final season while getting treated for thoracic outlet syndrome.
While in college, he met softball athlete Madi O’Neal, and they began dating in freshman fall. After two years together, they got engaged over Christmas break.
The Texas Rangers selected the pitcher in the 2019 MLB Draft. That same year, he completed therapy for his season-ending surgery and married O’Neal on December 15, 2021. Consequently, they closed in on a residence in Arizona before Bradford started spring training.
Unfortunately, Bradford couldn’t make his minor league debut as sporting events were suspended due to the pandemic. Nonetheless, he was grateful to have more time with his newlywed wife. They stayed in the Arizona apartment until the lease expired and kept up with training.
Once they returned to Texas, the couple had been waiting for the call from the team. And it finally came on May 15, 2023, as the Rangers promoted Bradford to the majors to start that day against the Atlanta Braves.
A day before Bradford’s major league debut, the couple visited the Globe Life Field in Arlington to visualize playing for their hometown team.
According to reporters who spoke to O’Neal at the game, she said that her husband was “in awe” about the opportunity.
