O's sending speedy Bradfield to Arizona Fall League

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BALTIMORE -- In recent years, it’s been rare for the Orioles to send their best prospects to the Arizona Fall League, unless it’s a player who missed significant time during the season.

That will be the case for outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., Baltimore’s No. 4 prospect (per MLB Pipeline), who will soon be heading to the desert for six weeks.

The 2025 Fall League rosters were announced Wednesday, with Bradfield among the eight O’s youngsters headed west to play additional games following the conclusion of the Minor League season. The group also includes left-hander Luis De León (Orioles No. 21 prospect), catcher Ethan Anderson (2024 second-round Draft pick), outfielder Thomas Sosa and others.

The AFL is a prospect showcase featuring six teams that play exhibition games at Arizona Spring Training ballparks, taking place this year from Oct. 6-Nov. 15. Baltimore’s representatives will be among those suiting up for the Peoria Javelinas.

For Bradfield, it’s a chance to compile more at-bats to cap a year in which he twice went on the injured list due to hamstring injuries -- from April 11-May 20 due to a left hamstring strain, then from July 11-Aug. 12 with a right hamstring strain.

“That’s the main purpose of [the Fall League],” said Bradfield, the Orioles’ 2023 first-round Draft pick out of Vanderbilt University. “I feel like if I play a full year and I’m healthy the entire way, I’d probably give myself a break. But ultimately, I’ve just missed too much time for me to want to go back to the drawing board and game plan for 2026.”

Even though Bradfield was sidelined for significant time, it’s still been a productive season for the 23-year-old, who returned to Double-A Chesapeake to open the year. The speedster hit .269 with 12 doubles, one triple, two homers, 14 RBIs, 26 stolen bases and a .779 OPS in 50 games for the Baysox, also representing the O’s in the All-Star Futures Game.

At the beginning of September, Bradfield earned his first promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, where he was hitting .194 with one double, one triple, two RBIs, four stolen bases and a .509 OPS through eight games entering Friday.

Bradfield is sure to have a learning period in Triple-A -- where the season ends Sept. 21 -- as he’s now facing older pitchers, plenty of whom have MLB experience.

“The ability for those guys to make the ball move, to have different shapes and to mix and match combinations, pitch locations, pitch types -- that is primarily the huge difference, I feel like, in the pitching in Triple-A than in Double-A,” Bradfield said. “So it’s definitely been a little bit of a challenge getting adjusted to that. But every at-bat I’m going in there and I’m competing.”

At one point earlier this year -- as Bradfield rehabbed alone at the Orioles’ facilities in Sarasota, Fla., during his first stint on the IL -- he wasn’t sure if this season would end up being one he’d “consider a waste.” However, his mindset changed the second time around.

“I guess nothing is ever considered a waste, because you can always learn from it,” Bradfield said.

Bradfield’s positivity and work ethic didn’t go unnoticed in Baltimore’s organization.

“I’m super proud of Enrique. Obviously, any time injury -- or injuries -- kind of derail your season, it’s less than ideal. But guys need to learn how to bounce back from adversity,” said Anthony Villa, the O’s director of player development. “The second time that he went through it, he showed much more poise. Really just did a nice job of remaining the player that he is and played really well in Double-A and earned his way to Triple-A, where we’re seeing him continue to learn some new lessons and battle there. It’s good stuff.”

In Arizona, Bradfield will get chances to build upon his small taste of Triple-A. He’ll aim to continue to make strides offensively, while also flashing the speed (80 grade) and fielding skills (70) that make him one of the most exciting players in the Orioles’ Minor League ranks.

The Fall League has often been called a “finishing school” for top prospects. The matchups against other talented youngsters can help players reach the doorstep of the big leagues.

Once Bradfield completes his time in the AFL, he’ll begin to look more toward next year, which could bring his first callup to The Show, given his current trajectory.

“That’s definitely the goal,” Bradfield said. “I just want to finish this year strong in the Fall League, sit down and see how I put myself in a conversation to go into Spring Training and compete for a job. That’s what I want. That’s what I think I’ll be ready for. I have high expectations to be able to at least go in there and compete. ...

“I’m just going to show up every day, work, learn as much as I can and continue to do what I’ve been doing in this org for about two years now.”