“I Just Pay Attention To Smaller Details” | Baltimore Orioles Prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. Understands Stealing Bases Is Not Just About Speed

One of the Baltimore Orioles’ young prospects hoping to join the major leagues in the coming years is Enrique Bradfield Jr. The talented speedster who was taken by the Birds with the 17th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft by way of NCAA powerhouse Vanderbilt. He received a nice $4.17 million slot bonus for where he was selected.

 

Bradfield Has Been Electric In The Minors

Since his arrival to the club, EBJ has flourished. He played in 25 games last season with the Orioles rookie, Single-A and High Single-A affiliates.

 

He began this season with the High-A Aberdeen Ironbirds, and he’s been must-see television. In less than two seasons in the minors he’s stolen 48 bases including 23 in just 31 games this season while being thrown out just four times. In totality he’s only been caught stealing six times in 54 attempts in less than two seasons.

 

That’s not really surprising when consider he stole 130 bases in 143 attempts at Vandy including a perfect 46-for-46 in 2022.

 

In a recent interview with MLB.com EBJ talked about how his attention to detail has changed since being in the minors and even moving up from rookie to Single-A and now High Single-A.

“I just pay attention to smaller details, and that’s going back to the time I spent at Vanderbilt. When I showed up there, I was just a guy with speed, but I really didn’t know how to use it. Being able to work around the staff and learn from them, that gave me all the confidence I needed to be able to look at minor details, come up with a game plan, do research and then go into the game and just be free and play.”

Those minor details have not only helped EBJ on the basepaths but also at the plate. Thus far this season he’s raking in the batter’s box with a slash line of .270/.346/.383 with ten extra-base knocks and six RBI.

Baltimore Orioles Are World Series Contenders 

 

Fresh off winning their first AL East title since 2014, the Baltimore Orioles are hoping to win consecutive division titles for the first time since 1969-1971 and 1973-74, when they won five in six seasons.

 

They’re also hoping to win their first AL Pennant since 1983 when they also won the last of their three World Series. At (42-22) the Birds have are tied with the Cleveland Guardians for the second-best record in the AL trailing only the New York Yankees by (2.5 games) and third-best record in all of MLB behind the Phillies and Yanks. None of this would be possible without the infusion of young talent the Birds have accrued over the years.

 

End Goal For EBJ Is The Majors, Whenever That May Come

 

As part of his paying close attention to minor details, EBJ has also learned to be patient. He knows baseball is a sport where reps and preparation are most important.

 

“The end goal is the Major Leagues, so in order for that to happen I would have to jump some levels. I’m just trying to take it day-by-day, get better one percent. I can’t build this thing overnight. I’m going to need these experiences so I can fall back on them when I’m at the higher levels.”

 

Related: “It’s Always Been A Part Of Who I Am” | Baltimore Orioles No. 5 Ranked Prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. Models Game After Rickey Henderson And Kenny Lofton | mlbbro.com

 

With an expected call up still two years away (2026), EBJ has plenty of time to perfect his craft before arriving to the big leagues to help an Orioles team that should be contenders for years to come.