2023 #7 Prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. - CF

[Spy Fox]

Unless Cowser breaks out this season and shows he can handle CF defensively, I don't think we'll have enough CF depth to trade Mullins next winter. 

[jrobb21613]

EBJ = Willie Mays Hayes 

[Jim'sKid26]

7 hours ago, Frobby said:

I thought of another pretty good comp for Bradfield - Willie Wilson, former Royals CF who had a .285/.326/.375 line, stole 668 bases and was a plus CF.   I think Bradfield will have a bigger BA/OBP spread than Wilson, but otherwise that’s a pretty good fit.   

Mickey Rivers?

[Just Regular]

Fangraphs gives Billy Hamilton one of the top 30 Age-23 seasons of the last 10 years as the league got its first look at him his rookie year.

2013 AAA and 2014 MLB he was almost exactly .650 OPS both seasons.

He didn't go to college so was posting his 100+ SB years in the low minors when Enrique at those ages was one of the Commodores.

[Frobby]

2 hours ago, Jim'sKid26 said:

Mickey Rivers?

I think Rivers is one step further than Wilson in the direction of a guy with a high BA but a low walk rate, and that’s not likely to be Bradfield. 

Wilson: .285/.326/.376

Rivers: .295/.327/.397
 

[Just Regular]

Curtis Goodwin's half season with us was his Age-22 season, and then this one worked out pretty well.     1996 Wells gave us ~3 WAR and 20 good postseason innings, which today is a deal on Corbin Burnes you might have to sign up in blood for.

December 26, 1995: Traded by the Baltimore Orioles with Trovin Valdez (minors) to the Cincinnati Reds for David Wells.

Prorated to a full season's numbers, Fangraphs baserunning numbers figure Goodwin would have been one of MLB's five most valuable players on the bases that year.

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&type=8&month=0&ind=0&startdate=&enddate=&season1=1995&season=1995&qual=300&sortcol=18&sortdir=default&team=0&pagenum=1

 

 

 

Edited February 20 by Just Regular

[Jagwar]

How great would it be if EBJ developed even a little power, say up to the .425-.435 level

[Sports Guy]

9 minutes ago, Jagwar said:

How great would it be if EBJ developed even a little power, say up to the .425-.435 level

5-10 homers and 40-45 doubles and triples combined.

That would be great.

Hit 280ish, walk a lot and put up those power numbers. That would be fantastic. 

[RZNJ]

1 hour ago, Just Regular said:

Fangraphs gives Billy Hamilton one of the top 30 Age-23 seasons of the last 10 years as the league got its first look at him his rookie year.

2013 AAA and 2014 MLB he was almost exactly .650 OPS both seasons.

He didn't go to college so was posting his 100+ SB years in the low minors when Enrique at those ages was one of the Commodores.

The Commodores?

[Just Regular]

44 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

The Commodores?

 

Regrettably I haven't gotten fluent at posting images, as any given Cornelius Vanderbilt image is the elegant reply here.

[O's84]

[Moose Milligan]

4 hours ago, Just Regular said:

Regrettably I haven't gotten fluent at posting images, as any given Cornelius Vanderbilt image is the elegant reply here.

Have you seen Lionel Richie’s afro in that photo? 

[oriolefan1035]

This is probably going to be an unpopular opinion, but I feel like EBJ is getting overrated a good bit. Granted, I haven’t watched him play, but looking at stats and reading scouting reports, it seems like he’s an all defense, stolen base threat, with zero power, and a below average hit tool. His speed and defense seem to make him a good floor bet to be a Billy Hamilton type, but it feels like there is very little ceiling above that for upside. There’s some value in that, but he’s basically an OF Jorge Mateo. I’d argue Mateo has more upside though.

[sevastras]

19 minutes ago, oriolefan1035 said:

This is probably going to be an unpopular opinion, but I feel like EBJ is getting overrated a good bit. Granted, I haven’t watched him play, but looking at stats and reading scouting reports, it seems like he’s an all defense, stolen base threat, with zero power, and a below average hit tool. His speed and defense seem to make him a good floor bet to be a Billy Hamilton type, but it feels like there is very little ceiling above that for upside. There’s some value in that, but he’s basically an OF Jorge Mateo. I’d argue Mateo has more upside though.

As of today, it is thought that he has more upside hit tool than Mateo’s present value. It wouldn’t be that much of a stretch to say he could hit as well now as Mateo. Not because he is that good, but Mateo is that bad with the bat. Also, he is probably faster than Mateo(marginally because they are both fast but he is a half step faster). 
People want more power out of him for some illusion that he will just be attacked because he won’t take the pitcher deep. I don’t understand that because him on base has a decent opportunity at becoming a double simply from a stole base. Also, the disruption on the base path is a factor beyond the measurable OPS

[Say O!]

The difference among EBJ and other questionable hit tool players cited is that EBJ has batting eye.  He may yield .80pts OBP delta above his BA.  Hamilton, Pierre, Mateo, etc were not same in that regard.
 

I shared this in another prospect thread on the minors board, but worth reiterating.  EBJ with elite defense, elite baserunning and .425 slug (mentioned earlier in thread)…well that’s peak Kenny Lofton and 7-8 WAR/162.  I’m not saying that EBJ will ever reach that level, just looking to set perspective on what his skill set means if the hit tool develops.