Five Plays That Encapsulate What Enrique Bradfield Jr Will Bring To The Orioles

When the Orioles selected Enrique Bradfield Jr. with the 17th pick of the 2023 MLB draft, they added one of the most electrifying players in college baseball to their already loaded farm system. A naturally-born leader, Bradfield Jr. has a diverse skill set that enabled him to stand out as an elite leadoff hitter, baserunner, and fielder in the country’s best conference. 

Having spent the last two years watching Bradfield Jr. patrol center field at Vanderbilt, I have become very familiar with the immense impact he has each time he steps onto a baseball diamond. From setting the tone for the offense to making spectacular plays to rob extra base hits, he is a truly unique talent who, if developed properly, could become a superstar. Here are five plays that encapsulate each of the qualities that Bradfield Jr. will bring with him as he departs from Nashville and heads to Baltimore. 

Blazing Speed 

When any scout hears the name Enrique Bradfield Jr., the first thing that comes to mind is his speed. Bradfield Jr. is an elite baserunner who distracted pitchers, embarrassed catchers, and infuriated opposing coaches throughout his time in college. Over the course of his three years at Vanderbilt, he stole 130 bases in 143 tries, setting the all-time record at his school and placing among the top record holders in the entire SEC.  

No play illustrates Bradfield Jr.’s ability to wreak havoc on the bases as well as his steal of home against Indiana State last year. Trailing 7-3 as they entered the bottom of ninth, the Commodores stormed back to pull within one thanks to a home run, two walks, and two singles (one of which came from Bradfield Jr.). Standing at third base with two outs, just 90 feet away from tying the game, Bradfield Jr. decided to take things into his own hands. He crept down the third base line before breaking into a sprint and sliding safely into home without a throw, sending the stadium into a frenzy and the game into extra innings, where Vanderbilt would ultimately win.   

That stolen base was one of the 46 Bradfield Jr. collected during a 2022 season in which he was never caught. Thanks to his lightning-quick feet and keen eye for recognizing when to take off, he has mastered base running in a way that very few can and has found ways to absorb enough attention on the base paths to throw any pitcher off their game. With the new rules in play to encourage base stealing, Bradfield Jr. should have no trouble continuing to swipe bags as he moves throughout the Orioles organization. 

Gold Glove Defense 

 

Bradfield Jr.’s speed not only enables him to swipe bases with ease; it also helps him to make great plays in the outfield. A two-time glove winner, he posted an impressive .991 fielding percentage at Vanderbilt while covering more ground than any other player in college baseball. I’m not exaggerating when I say that Bradfield Jr. is the best outfielder I’ve ever watched and I wholeheartedly believe that he could start in center field today and outperform at least half of all major league center fielders.  

Bradfield Jr.’s defensive abilities were on full display during this year’s SEC Tournament, where he made a slew of fantastic catches to rob opposing teams of extra bases. He put on a clinic In the semi-final against Florida, making excellent reads to track down balls deep in the gap in back-to-back innings. The catches helped propel Vanderbilt into the championship, where they took down Texas A&M, and gained attention from media outlets across the country.  

The one knock on Bradfield Jr.’s defense is his arm which, similar to Cedric Mullins, leaves something to be desired. However, after recording just one outfield assist in his first two years at the collegiate level, he caught four runners this season and showed off significantly more strength. Furthermore, his ability to cut off ground balls in the gap and prevent line drives from ever reaching the ground keep him from having to make too many difficult throws to begin with.  

Sneaky Power 

Bradfield Jr. was never able to put up consistent power numbers at the collegiate level, so it’s not much of a surprise that out of all of his tools, power was graded the lowest by MLB.com (40). That being said, there’s more pop in his bat than may initially meet the eye, and if he can continue to add muscle as he has done in each of the past two offseasons, there’s no reason to believe he can’t hit 10-15 home runs per year at the big league level.  

His power potential became evident during a series against Mississippi State earlier this year, when he recorded five hits and two home runs in the first two games of the weekend. The second home run (displayed here) was an absolute moon shot that cleared the outfield bleachers and landed on an inflatable structure. What made it even more impressive was that the home run he’d hit the previous day went to the opposite field, demonstrating that he can drive the ball in all directions.  

Finding ways to consistently get more loft and higher launch angles out of his swing will be vital to unlocking more power from his bat. Then again, maybe the Orioles are comfortable letting him be a line drive hitter who can turn a single into a triple (see the next section) with his speed. Fortunately, his skillset is diverse enough that he can be a successful major league player either way.  

Patience and Discipline 

 

While he hit for a respectable .311 batting average over his three years at Vanderbilt, what sets Bradfield Jr. apart at the plate is his discipline. His .425 career on-base percentage and 131/122 career walk to strikeout ratio are indicative of a player who battles against pitches in the zone and almost never chases pitches out of it.  

Those traits are even more valuable when you can steal bases as evidenced by his at-bat in the first inning of Vanderbilt’s matchup with Auburn in May. After fouling off a bunt attempt on the first pitch, Bradfield Jr. took four straight balls, three of which narrowly missed the strike zone, and earned himself a walk. He then proceeded to steal second and third on back-to-back pitches, putting himself in a prime position to score on an infield single.  

It’s moments like this that show why Bradfield Jr. was able to put up more walks and stolen bases than strikeouts during his time at Vanderbilt. Orioles fans have been forced to live through the agony of watching Jorge Mateo’s speed go to waste due to poor plate discipline. That will not be the case with Bradfield Jr., who can fight off tough pitches and find ways on base even when he is in the midst of a slump. His bat should be good enough to give him plenty of base stealing opportunities, but even if it isn’t, his eye will pick up the slack.  

Unmatched Energy 

While Bradfield Jr.’s physical gifts deserve recognition, his greatest quality is his passion and love for the game of baseball. He never passes up the chance to celebrate a significant hit, share tips on what to look for after striking out, or high five one of his teammates after they make a good play in the field. The energy and competitiveness he brings drive both him and those around to put their best foot forward, and was a large part of why he was so popular throughout the Vanderbilt community.  

To see his passion on full display you need not look further than the most clutch hit of his career, an RBI single in the 2021 College World Series. Down to their final out in an elimination game against Stanford, the Commodores put runners on first and third before Bradfield Jr. roped a line drive into right field to tie the game. As he stood on first base pounding his chest and screaming into the dugout, the entire team erupted into a chorus of cheers. The very next pitch went to the backstop and allowed the winning run to score, illustrating the effect that Bradfield Jr. and his energy can have on the outcome of a game.  

Given the amount of excitement present with this young Orioles team, Bradfield Jr. should be a perfect fit within the organization. His signature celebrations, whether it be after picking up a clutch hit or making a diving catch, should help to energize his teammates and turn him into an instant fan-favorite in Baltimore.