South Florida speed to O’s: Heritage grad Enrique Bradfield goes in Round 1 of MLB draft
South Florida speed isn’t just about football. Enrique Bradfield Jr. used it to become one of the best college baseball players in the country and now a first-round pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
The Baltimore Orioles took Bradfield with the No. 17 overall pick in Round 1 of the MLB draft Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle, banking on the Plantation American Heritage alumnus to ride his elite speed to stardom in the Majors.
Bradfield, 21, was the Vanderbilt Commodores’ starting center fielder for three straight years, winning the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year award in 2021 and earning All-SEC honors in all three of his seasons in Nashville. He was a first-team all-conference selection as a freshman and sophomore, and earned second-team honors as a junior last season.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound outfielder has one season of eligibility remaining, but will almost certainly sign with the Orioles after going in the first round.
Bradfield, who was a first-team All-Broward County selection by the Miami Herald as a sophomore in 2018, is widely considered to be the fastest player in the draft and was a terror on the base paths at Vanderbilt.
As a freshman, Bradfield led the nation with 47 stolen bases and he again led the country with 46 steals — on 46 attempts — as a sophomore. His numbers slipped a bit as a junior — all he had was 37, still good for eighth in the country.
In his college career, Bradfield has batted .311 with a .426 on-base percentage and had 31 doubles, 11 triples and 15 home runs. Last year, he batted .279 with 13 doubles, two triples and six homers.
His upside as a hitter is the major question mark. His speed and defense are not, and it gives him a high floor and high upside as a prospect.
