Orioles speed up top prospect’s big league journey with surprising promotion

Baltimore Orioles fans are no stranger to their team being aggressive with prospect promotions. Adley Rutschman flew through the minor leagues before his promotion in 2022, as did Jackson Holliday ahead of his 2024 promotion. Based on the organization's latest move, that trend could be one that is continuing.

On Tuesday, another highly-regarded Orioles prospect followed along that familiar path when the team announced that prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. had been promoted to Triple-A Norfolk after spending the start of the season with Double-A. 

Although he’s a highly-regarded prospect who represents a new era of Orioles baseball after the promotions of players like Rutschman and Holliday, it’s still a bit surprising to see him move up the ranks given how his 2025 season has gone. 

But as the Orioles’ disappointing season reaches its conclusion and focus begins to shift toward 2026, seeing a prospect like Bradfield move through the ranks is a great sign. 

It sure seems like Enrique Bradfield Jr. may be on the fast track to the majors with the Orioles

Bradfield, who the Orioles took with the No. 17 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, spent most of last season at Double-A and finished the year with a minor league-leading 74 stolen bases. 

Bradfield has hit .260 with 13 doubles, two homers, 14 RBI and 30 steals this year in 61 games at Double-A. He’s struggled with hamstring injuries this year, but has hit .293 with 12 steals in 14 games since he returned to Double-A on Aug. 12.

This promotion means nothing but good things for Bradfield’s major league timeline, although the challenge of a higher level could impact him more than one would think. While he likely won’t break camp with the Orioles next season, this sets him up for a potential mid-April promotion if he plays well, likely not dissimilar to what the organization did with Holliday last year. 

We’ve seen the Orioles be aggressive in promotions this year as the season has transitioned from winning to development, and it’s added a bit of energy to an otherwise lost season. But, if the Orioles do end up promoting Bradfield at some point next season, it will be a bit different considering the team plans on contending next season.

What’s next for Bradfield could depend on what happens with the Orioles’ outfield. Colton Cowser has had a bit of a down year due to injuries, but he seems like a lock to be in left field. The same can be said for Tyler O'Neill since he still has two years remaining on his contract, but being able to stay on the field is anything but a given. Additionally, Beavers has played well since making his debut, while Jeremiah Jackson has gone from minor league afterthought to looking like a bonafide major league outfielder. 

Even with that uphill climb, it’s not hard to imagine how Bradfield could help the Orioles. They’ve only had four players who have recorded double-digit steals this year, and one of them is Cedric Mullins, who now plays for the Mets. Bradfield may reach that total in his first week in the major leagues. It may not seem like it, but the future is bright for the Orioles, and Bradfield’s promotion is an example of that.

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