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

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

by | Jun 11, 2024 | 5TH SLOT

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.

Baltimore Orioles MLBbro Cedric Mullins Is Leading The Charge For Team To Beat In The AL East

Baltimore Orioles MLBbro Cedric Mullins Is Leading The Charge For Team To Beat In The AL East

by | Apr 30, 2024 | THE LEAD OFF

The Baltimore Orioles are coming off an impressive 2023 season, winning the AL East. It was the first time Baltimore made the postseason since 2016. Even though the Orioles lost to the Texas Rangers 3-0 in the Division Series, it was a step in the right direction for the franchise.

 

This season, the team is picking up where it left off. Through the first full month of the season, Baltimore is one of the top teams in the league, and Cedric Mullins is ready to help his team make another run at the postseason. 

 

Earlier this week, MLB.com released their power rankings and the Orioles were number two on the list.

 

Pace Setters: MLBbros Help To Drive Early League Power Rankings

Cedric Mullins and Baltimore Orioles, Team to Beat In AL East 

 

Baltimore has become the team to beat in the AL East and Mullins has played a vital role in the team’s success. Since the 2021 season, Mullins’ numbers have dropped, but the 2021 All-Star still has provided value to his team, both at the plate and on the field.

 

Mullins’ confidence is right where it needs to be

 

Baseball is a difficult game and not too many players have success playing this sport. You can have a good season one year and struggle the next two.

 

 

A key attribute to have in playing this game is confidence. And for Mullins, he has the utmost confidence in himself that he can have a productive 2024 season.

 

Through 28 games, he is hitting .217 with six home runs, 17 RBI, and six stolen bases. 

 

Mullins Trying To Recapture 30-30 Magic 

 

Three years ago, he had the best season of his career as he hit .291 with 30 homers and 30 stolen bases. Last season, Mullins dealt with numerous injuries but still managed to appear in over 110 games and play during the postseason. 

 

Despite the injuries and struggles the last few seasons, Mullins wants to continue to focus on how he can make an impact on his team. 

 

“I try to not be too hard on myself and I know I always put my best foot forward every single day,” Mullins told Steve Melewski of MASN. “It’s a matter of learning how I can almost compete with myself in a sense. Like taking 2021, really studying how that year went and how I was able to go about that season and really come to terms with OK, ‘This is what I was doing, how do I get back to doing that?’

 

“One of the main focuses was like, using the whole field. I got a little pull happy. The dimensions of the field were a little scary for guys (when left field was moved back). Kind of made you adjust in certain ways that may not have benefitted certain people, me being one of them. So, continuing to stay focused on using the whole field and being disciplined at the plate. Being the table setter – that has always been my goal. I feel like when I have that focus, I can help the team in a big way.”

 

At the plate, Mullins sets the tone as a leadoff hitter, and he can change the momentum of the game with one swing of the bat. That’s how much value he adds to this Orioles team offensively.

 

And on the defensive side, he’s one of the best in the game. The big thing for Mullins is staying healthy and a healthy Mullins could potentially have another 30-30 season.

 

 

“I’m sure there are plenty of people that wouldn’t believe I did that (30-30) in the first place,” he said. “So, kind of take that and for people who don’t think I can do it again, pretty sure they didn’t think I could the first time. That is what it is. I know I have the ability to do it and I know I have the ability to do it again.”

 

Mullins will look to turn things around at the plate and look to help keep the Orioles at the top of the AL East standings.