How Bradfield's game is evolving

SARASOTA, Fla. – There aren’t many prospects in baseball with an 80 grade tool. 

The grading scale, ranging from 20 to 80, evaluates five different tools for position players: Hit (evaluating contact), power, run (evaluating overall speed offensively and defensively), arm and field. 

MLB Pipeline’s highest graded position player, Roman Anthony, doesn’t have a single grade above a 60. Nor does Walker Jenkins, Pipeline’s third overall prospect in their top 100. 

Coby Mayo’s prodigious power has a 70 grade according to Pipeline’s scouts. As do the power tools of some recent top draft picks like Jac Caglianone and Charlie Condon. 

It’s very rare to find a perfect grade of an 80. Enrique Bradfield Jr., according to some outlets, has two: run and field. 

In fact, some scouts have gone as far as to say that upon being drafted 17th overall by the Orioles back in 2023, Bradfield could’ve immediately played a solid big league center field. The former Vanderbilt Commodore was that polished defensively. 

While his defense is smooth, the best way to describe Bradfield’s presence on the basepaths is disruptive. In his first 25 games in the minor leagues, the speedster stole 25 bases. In 133 career games down on the farm, that total is up to 99. When Bradfield gets to first, don’t blink. He’ll probably already be on second. 

With a glove bound to be gold and a sonic boom in his wake on the basepaths, there has really only ever been one question surrounding Bradfield’s development: How will the bat progress? 

In his junior year at Vanderbilt, Bradfield saw his numbers take a dip. After a .913 OPS in his sophomore year, the center fielder saw that number drop to .839. His batting average fell from .317 to .279. How would those numbers, and just 15 home runs in three college seasons, translate to pro ball?

After an up-and-down start at High-A Aberdeen in 2024, Bradfield’s numbers took off after a promotion to Double-A Bowie. The Vandy product hit .287 with an OPS close to .800 for the Baysox and finished off the season on a great note. He was feeling like his sophomore-year self all over again. 

“That experience gave me confidence that I haven’t had in a long time,” Bradfield said at big league camp on Monday. “Personally, it was really good. Obviously, it feels great to go out there and play well, but I felt like it brought me back to some of my days when I was in college from a confidence standpoint.”

While it’s easy to point to OPS as an indicator of a hitter’s success, it doesn’t paint the full picture for Bradfield. He is, more than likely, never going to be a home run hitter with his stature and playing style. As a result, his slugging percentage may drag the OPS number down. But in his 27 games in Bowie, Bradfield’s on-base percentage soared to nearly .400, and he walked more than he struck out. 

“I’m trying to get better and be more consistent,” Bradfield noted. “Hitting those line drives, that’s what’s gonna do it for me. That’s all I want.” 

It’s nice when those liners find deep gaps in the outfield. And a noticeably bigger Bradfield recognized that priority this offseason. 

“I feel better than ever,” Bradfield said with a smile. “I don’t feel like I’ve lost a step at all. I feel like I’ve gained a couple if anything. I like the way I’m moving. I actually feel better at the weight that I’m at now compared to where I was to even end the year.” 

Bradfield gaining a few steps is a scary thing. We’re talking about 74 stolen bases in 108 games last season. And the misconception that adding weight inhibits your speed was once again debunked. 

“Feel faster, quicker, more explosive, that was kind of the main goal, to be able to move the bat around a little differently. I feel like I was able to accomplish that,” Bradfield added. 

The O’s currently have a speedy left-handed hitter patrolling center field in the big leagues in the form of Cedric Mullins, who has stolen 115 bases in the last four seasons. He’s a natural role model for someone like Bradfield, who is trying to take in the whole experience of big league camp. 

“Ced’s a guy who, if I get a chance to spend a lot of time with, I’d be happy,” Bradfield said. “He’s done fantastic things in his career and he’s a great player, he’s a great person. Just being able to learn from him would be awesome.” 

Make no mistake, the former first-round pick feels like a slam dunk big leaguer. Elite speed and elite defense at a premium position is valuable to all 30 teams in baseball. But continuing to improve at the plate could take his game to another level. 

The weight room apparently didn’t help his golf game too much, though. 

“I need to hit the range more,” Bradfield joked. "My golf game is desperately asking for me to hit the range.”

Me too, Enrique. Me too.