Enrique Bradfield

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Enrique Bradfield Jr.

|image =

|team = Baltimore Orioles

|number =

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|12|2}}

|birth_place = Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague =

|debutdate =

|debutyear =

|debutteam =

|statleague =

|statyear =

|stat1label =

|stat1value =

|stat2label =

|stat2value =

|stat3label =

|stat3value =

|teams =

}}

Enrique Antonio Bradfield Jr. (born December 2, 2001) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Baltimore Orioles organization.

High school career

Bradfield attended American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida where he played baseball. In July 2019, he participated in the High School All-Star Game at Progressive Field.{{cite web |last=Newman |first=Logan |title=Rosters: High School Baseball All-Star Game and Home Run Derby |website=USA Today High School Sports |date=July 5, 2019 |url=https://www.usatodayhss.com/story/sports/high-school/2019/07/05/baseball-high-school-all-star-game-home-run-derby-rosters/76273945007/ |access-date=March 11, 2025}} During his shortened senior season in 2020, he batted .367 with one home run, ten RBIs, and five stolen bases.{{Cite web |first=Jeff |last=Dahn |url=https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=18138 |title=Dynamic Bradfield in full sprint |website=Perfect Game |date=April 14, 2020}}

College career

Bradfield went unselected in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft and enrolled at Vanderbilt University to play college baseball.

Bradfield was immediately inserted into the Vanderbilt starting lineup as a freshman in 2021.{{Cite news |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2021/05/24/enrique-bradfield-facts-vanderbilt-baseball-player/5183912001/ |title=Vanderbilt base stealer Enrique Bradfield broke slump with 'Major League' movie inspiration |first=Adam |last=Sparks |newspaper=The Tennessean |date=May 24, 2021}} Over 67 games, he batted .336 with one home run, 38 RBIs, and 47 stolen bases, which led the NCAA.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/multiple-dores-named-to-preseason-all-america-teams/article_268d1992-82b2-11ec-8137-1b45e363dbe0.html |title=Multiple 'Dores named to preseason All-America teams |website=Nashville Post |date=January 31, 2022}} He was named the Southeastern Conference Baseball Freshman of the Year as well as First Team All-SEC.{{Cite web |url=https://andscape.com/features/vanderbilt-two-freshmen-phenoms-success-is-a-family-affair-enrique-bradfield-jr-christian-little/ |title=For Vanderbilt's two freshman phenoms, success is a family affair |first=Clinton |last=Yates |date=June 25, 2021 |website=Andscape |publisher=ESPN Inc.}}{{Cite web |first=Robbie |last=Weinstein |url=https://247sports.com/college/vanderbilt/Article/Vanderbilt-baseball-Three-Commodores-named-All-SEC-Enrique-Bradfield-Jr-wins-Freshman-of-the-Year-Kumar-Rocker-Jack-Leiter-165725256/ |title=Three 'Dores named All-SEC, Enrique Bradfield Jr. wins Freshman of the Year |website=Vandy247 |date=May 24, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/leiter-bradfield-jr-headline-multiple-dores-earning-all-sec-honors/article_0c9ad664-bcfb-11eb-aae1-577d0227c956.html |title=Leiter, Bradfield Jr. headline multiple 'Dores earning All-SEC honors |first=Michael |last=Gallagher |website=Nashville Post |date=May 25, 2021}} Defensively, he had a .992 field percentage, earned a ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove, and was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/bradfield-jr-living-up-to-gold-glove-standard/article_eecbbf26-d4a7-11eb-96d2-5bac58d86410.html |title=Bradfield Jr. living up to Gold (glove) standard |website=Nashville Post |date=June 24, 2021}} Bradfield returned as Vanderbilt's starting center fielder in 2022 and was named First Team All-SEC and to the SEC All-Defensive Team for the second consecutive year.{{Cite news |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2022/05/23/vanderbilt-baseball-lands-three-all-sec-teams-spencer-jones-enrique-bradfield-dominic-keegan/9766609002/ |title=Vanderbilt baseball's Enrique Bradfield, Dominic Keegan, Spencer Jones named All-SEC |first=Aria |last=Gerson |newspaper=The Tennessean |date=May 23, 2022}} Over 62 games, he slashed .317/.415/.498 with eight home runs, 36 RBIs, and 46 stolen bases.{{cite news |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2022/06/15/vanderbilt-baseball-bradfield-holton-earn-team-usa-invites/7640569001/ |title=Vanderbilt baseball: Enrique Bradfield Jr., Carter Holton earn Team USA training camp invites |newspaper=The Tennessean |date=June 15, 2022 |url-access=subscription}} He was named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team following the season's end,{{cite web |url=https://www.usabaseball.com/news/topic/collegiate/usa-baseball-names-2022-collegiate-national-team-roster |title=USA Baseball Names 2022 Collegiate National Team Roster |website=USA Baseball |date=July 5, 2022}} and played in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Cotuit Kettleers.{{cite web |url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=1585726 |title=Enrique Bradfield - Cape Cod Baseball League - player |publisher=Pointstreak Sports Technologies |website=pointstreak.com |access-date=July 13, 2023}}{{cite web |first=Daniel |last=Garcia |url=https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/7/28/live-looks-cape-cod-league-featuring-enrique-bradfield-jr |title=Live Looks: Cape Cod League featuring Enrique Bradfield Jr |date=July 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731010934/https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/7/28/live-looks-cape-cod-league-featuring-enrique-bradfield-jr |archive-date=July 31, 2022}} For the 2023 season with Vanderbilt, Bradfield hit .279 with six home runs, 34 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases over 62 games.{{Cite web |first=Michael |last=Baumann |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/enrique-bradfield-jr-is-running-down-a-dream/ |title=Enrique Bradfield Jr. Is Running Down a Dream |date=July 7, 2023 |website=FanGraphs}}

Professional career

Bradfield was selected by the Baltimore Orioles with the 17th overall pick in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite news |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2023/07/09/enrique-bradfield-jr-mlb-draft-2023-baltimore-orioles-vanderbilt-baseball/70376261007/ |title=Vanderbilt's Enrique Bradfield Jr. to Baltimore Orioles in Round 1 of 2023 MLB Draft |newspaper=The Tennessean |date=July 9, 2023 |url-access=subscription}} On July 17, 2023, Bradfield signed with the Orioles for a slot value bonus worth $4.17 million.{{Cite web |first=Sam |last=Connon |title=Baltimore Orioles Ink Top Pick Enrique Bradfield Jr. to Slot Value Contract |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/baltimore-orioles-sign-top-pick-enrique-bradfield-jr-to-slot-value-contract |access-date=July 18, 2023 |website=Sports Illustrated |date=July 17, 2023 |language=en}}

Bradfield made his professional debut with the Florida Complex League Orioles and also played with the Delmarva Shorebirds and Aberdeen IronBirds.{{Cite news |date=August 6, 2023 |title=Orioles first-round pick Enrique Bradfield Jr.'s baseball savvy has impressed people since he was 5: 'He just loves the game' |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2023/08/06/orioles-first-round-pick-enrique-bradfield-jrs-baseball-savvy-has-impressed-people-since-he-was-5-he-just-loves-the-game/ |access-date=May 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |language=en-US |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106172422/https://www.baltimoresun.com/2023/08/06/orioles-first-round-pick-enrique-bradfield-jrs-baseball-savvy-has-impressed-people-since-he-was-5-he-just-loves-the-game/ |archive-date=January 6, 2024}} Over 25 games between the three teams, he hit .291 with 25 stolen bases.{{Cite web |title=Enrique Bradfield Jr. Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/enrique-bradfield-jr-690961 |access-date=May 17, 2024 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} Bradfield was assigned to Aberdeen to open the 2024 season.{{Cite web |first=Jonathan |last=Mayo |title=Here's where the Orioles' Top 30 prospects are starting the season |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/where-orioles-top-prospects-are-starting-2024-season |access-date=May 17, 2024 |date=April 3, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} In mid-August, he was promoted to the Bowie Baysox.{{Cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/news/orioles-top-of-prospect-enrique-bradfield-jr-promoted-to-double-a-bowie |title=Orioles top OF prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. promoted to Double-A Bowie |website=MiLB.com |date=August 13, 2024}} Over 108 games, he slashed .272/.358/.371 with four home runs, 35 RBIs, and 74 stolen bases.{{Cite web |first=Sam |last=Dykstra |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/baltimore-orioles-spring-training-prospect-report-2025 |title=Speedy prospects running loose in Orioles' retooled farm system |website=MLB.com |date=March 24, 2025}}

Bradfield returned to the Baysox, now the Chesapeake Baysox, to open the 2025 season.{{Cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/news/baysox-complete-comeback-to-win-season-opener |title=Baysox complete comeback to win season opener |website=MiLB.com |date=April 4, 2025}} He was selected to represent the Orioles organization at the 2025 All-Star Futures Game.{{Cite web|title=2 Orioles prospects selected to play in MLB All-Star Futures Game|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/30/orioles-prospects-enrique-bradfield-keagan-gillies-mlb-futures-game/|access-date=July 2, 2025|website=baltimoresun.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Bradfield Jr. and Gillies selected to 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game|url=https://www.milb.com/news/bradfield-jr-and-gillies-selected-to-2025-mlb-all-star-futures-game|access-date=July 2, 2025|website=milb.com|language=en}}

Personal life

Bradfield's father, Enrique Sr., played college baseball at St. Thomas University.{{Cite news |first=Eric |last=Olson |url=https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-baseball-83c9a05cc004c35de48ed0c73a637d90 |title=It's his bag: Bradfield blazes trail as premier base stealer |date=May 25, 2022 |work=Associated Press}}