Enrique

Bradfield Jr.

The 24-year-old really struggled in his limited Grapefruit League action, hitting .091 (1-for-11) with a 1/3 K/BB ratio and three runs scored. Regardless of how he performed though, the O’s have a crowded mix of outfielders fighting for spots on the Opening Day roster and Bradfield was always going to be on the outside. He’ll open up the season as extra depth at Triple-A Norfolk.

Panama scored three times in a miscue-riddled sixth inning for Canada, with all of the runs against James Paxton being unearned. That gave Panama a 4-2 lead, and Bradfield nearly added to it in on José Caballero’s double in the eighth, only to be thrown out at home thanks to an awesome combined effort from Owen Caissie and relay man Otto Lopez. Canada came back with one in the bottom of the eighth, but it couldn’t even the score after a rain delay in the top of the ninth. Panama won for the first time in three games in Pool A. Canada is 1-1 with Puerto Rico and Cuba still on the schedule.

McGonigle has been sizzling-hot in the desert recently, batting .462 (6-for-13) with three homers and seven RBI over his last three games. The 21-year-old prodigy is batting .385/.494/.754 with five round-trippers and three steals across 17 games this fall. He’ll enter next season as one of the top prospects in the fantasy landscape and should reach Detroit at some point soon. Here’s the full lineup: McGonigle (SS), Braden Montgomery (CF), Max Anderson (3B), Jonny Farmelo (LF), Blake Mitchell (C), Tommy White (1B), Sam Antonacci (2B), Raudi Rodriguez (DH), Enrique Bradfield Jr. (RF) and Luis De Leon (P).

Bradfield has made some truly jaw-dropping catches in center field and is up to 11 thefts through 10 games this fall. The 23-year-old former first-round pick from the 2023 MLB Draft is knocking on the door to the majors after posting a .697 OPS with three homers and 36 steals across 76 games this past season in Baltimore’s system. He’s a classic better real-life than fantasy prospect since his main strength is on the defensive end of the spectrum, but he might enough stolen base upside to be impactful in deeper mixed leagues.

Bradfield, one of the fastest players in the minors, missed four weeks early on this season with a left hamstring strain and then 10 days last month with right hamstring tightness. He aggravated the right hammy while playing in the Futures Game on Saturday. The 17th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Bradfield has hit .252/.388/.356 with 16 steals in 43 games this season.

Bradfield, the 17th overall pick in the 2023 draft, is known as one of the fastest players in the minors, but there will be some additional pop here as he continues to mature. He’s thus far hit four homers and stolen 99 bases in 133 minor league games.