Opposing scout assigning higher grade to Bradfield, young pitchers also earning praise

Enrique Bradfield Jr.

SARASOTA, Fla. – In describing Enrique Bradfield Jr. following the Spring Breakout game in Sarasota, a scout from outside the organization pretty much nailed it in four words.

“He’s a total disruptor.”

This is meant in a good way, of course. Not the kind who gets detention after school.

Bradfield provided an example of his disruptive nature in the first inning against the Yankees’ prospects. He slaps a two-strike single into left field, goes first to third with ease on an errant pickoff throw and bolts home on a wild pitch. Pitchers become distracted. The defense tightens from the pressure that he applies.

The scout said he’s done a 180 on Bradfield since a couple of years ago. He uses Kenny Lofton as a comp for the 2023 first-round draft pick. The questions about whether Bradfield will hit are growing silent.

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Orioles complete 2023 draft with 20 college players among 22 selections (updated)

oriole bird mlb draft

The 2023 baseball draft started Sunday night with the Orioles picking Vanderbilt center fielder Enrique Bradfield at No. 17 overall and concluded this afternoon with their selection of North Greenville (S.C.) University shortstop Jalen Vasquez in the 20th round.

The next steps are getting as many signatures on contracts as possible, figuring out minor league assignments, and making cuts to create room.

Twenty-two players were drafted, only two out of high school. The first 16 were college players.

The Orioles selected 13 college pitchers, five outfielders, one shortstop and one catcher. They also picked a high school outfielder and shortstop.

"In terms of what we're looking to accomplish, I think a lot of our resources are dedicated toward the college crop," said director of draft operations Brad Ciolek. "However, we did extensive work on a lot of high school players, a lot of junior college players. ... But yeah, we do focus a majority on the college crop because that's a lot of the data that we do get and allows us to do a deep dive on those players."

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