Orioles prospects impress in Spring Breakout thriller
SARASOTA, Fla. — The second edition of Spring Breakout — a four-day prospect showcase hosted by MLB during Spring Training — took place over the weekend, and it was a rousing success. Especially on Saturday night at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, where an energized crowd cheered on the future stars who fill the Orioles’ farm system.
RHP Keeler Morfe (O’s No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline)
Morfe’s line from his Spring Breakout start — two-thirds of an inning, two hits, two earned runs, two walks and one strikeout — doesn’t come close to telling the full story.
The Venezuelan right-hander is only 18 years old and has never faced upper-level Minor Leaguers, having made only four appearances at Single-A Delmarva last year. Morfe’s command needs improvement, but his stuff is there, as he showed by blowing a 99 mph fastball past George Lombard Jr. for a game-opening swinging strikeout.
“I was a little nervous, but I would say it was a proud moment for me and my family,” Morfe said via team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “It was great to be able to come out here and compete.”
OF Enrique Bradfield Jr. (O’s No. 3)
Nobody in Baltimore’s farm system is faster than Bradfield, who showcased his 80-grade speed. The 2023 first-round pick led off the bottom of the first with a single, advanced from first to third on an errant pickoff throw and then scored on a wild pitch with an impressive headfirst slide. The 23-year-old later singled again and stole a base in the sixth.
Bradfield dedicated his performance to his late friend Isaiah Hood, who died in a motorcycle accident last week.
“I would say this is probably the biggest highlight [of the spring] for me. It’s been a challenging week,” Bradfield said. “So for me to come out here, it’s meant a lot to me personally.”
