The hype train for this Orioles top prospect is about to leave the station

Things are really moving in the right direction for the Orioles at the moment. The O's are coming off their second straight playoff appearance and look poised to compete once again for the AL East crown in what should be a highly competitive division in 2025. And in addition to the team put together in Baltimore, there are some big things coming in terms of Orioles prospects.

Though he's not listed as the top Orioles prospect by most evaluators, Enrique Bradfield Jr. has been exceptional during his run through the O's system. And in yesterday's spring matchup with the Tigers, Bradfield showed off some of that potential with a big time home run to kick off what turned out to be a game-winning rally in the 8th inning.

Bradfield also scored a run in the 6th inning of Tuesday's affair after coming in as a pinch runner and taking over for fellow prospect Heston Kjerstad. If Bradfield is able to capture some of the same success this year as he did in 2024, it won't be long before he's seen as one of the top prospects in the entire sport.

Orioles' prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. set to shine in 2025

Bradfield came on strong last year, spending most of his time at High-A Aberdeen before being promoted later in the summer to Double-A Bowie. In total, Bradfield hit .272/.358/.374 with 74 steals and elite plate discipline in 108 games. He struck out just 15.4% of the time, and managed a double-digit walk rate, which is quite the feat for a 23 year old.

In Bradfield, the Orioles have an elite defensive outfielder who's shown a capacity to cause absolute havoc on the basepaths. His .398 OBP during his stretch at Double-A is something to lean on, and if he's able to come anywhere near that in 2025 he's going to be a true problem for opposing pitchers.

In MLB Pipeline's most recent write up back in 2024, Bradfield was drawing comparisons to Kenny Lofton. That's a pretty high bar to set for anyone, but Bradfield's speed is truly unmatched. That speed, along with his ability to play above average defense, gives Bradfield a high enough floor to think that he'll be able to carve out a major league career regardless of whether the bat translates well to the majors.

However, if the speedster is able to take steps forward this year, he could potentially debut in Baltimore in late 2025. Bradfield is an exceptionally exciting player to watch, and we can't wait for him to earn a place in the O's big league lineup.