Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game.
As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring Breakout showcase between Orioles and Yankees prospects at Ed Smith Stadium -- aired live across the country on MLB Network -- he let out all of his emotions. He screamed loudly in celebration, putting a challenging week behind him in the process.
That hustle play was made for Isaiah Hood, Bradfield’s former teammate during his high school travel ball days in South Florida who died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 25 on Tuesday.
“For me to come out here, it’s meant a lot to me, personally,” said Bradfield, Baltimore’s No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, who was born in Pembroke Pines, Fla. “To be able to give my mom a hug and see how emotional she is, see my sister still come out here, and I guess just play for my friend. It was tougher than I expected, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. I hope he’s resting up there. It’s just been a tough week for everybody that I’ve been around -- for my family, friends, his family. Playing with a heavy heart.”
Hood was a fellow baseball player who graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 2019. He remained in Bradfield’s mind throughout Saturday night.
“A very quiet kid. Once you got him in a comfortable setting, he really opened up,” Bradfield said. “He’s a great friend, great person, great big brother, great son, all the way around. There’s a lot of people, including myself, including my family, who are hurting right now. Just made the past couple of days very tough. Trying to stay busy, keep my mind in good spirits. But at the end of the day, it’s a loss of life that can’t be replaced. It’s just hard. It’s very tragic and hard all the way around.”
Bradfield put on the type of performance during the Orioles’ 5-4 win that he was sure would have made his friend proud.
In the bottom of the first, Bradfield slapped a leadoff single to left-center field. He moved from first to third on an errant pickoff throw by New York right-hander Carlos Lagrange, showing off the 80-grade speed that helped make him the O’s first-round Draft pick in 2023.
“That guy runs way too much. He's way too fast,” top Orioles prospect Samuel Basallo said via team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “It’s really impressive what he's able to do.”
Then, Lagrange uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Bradfield to take off. The 23-year-old bolted home, dove headfirst and gave max effort in trying to score -- which he did successfully, touching the plate before moving his arms in a safe motion in unison with the home-plate umpire.
It was a run more meaningful than most scored by Bradfield over two professional seasons.
“I’m trying to be focused out there, and my energy in that moment, sliding across home plate specifically, just maybe some emotion comes out of me, and that’s normal,” said Bradfield, who finished 2-for-3 with a stolen base and two runs scored. “It’s life. Bad things happen, and you’ve got to pick yourself up and keep moving forward.”
Baseball can help the healing process, which has frequently been proven throughout the sport’s long history. Bradfield felt that way after playing alongside the friends he’s made in the Orioles’ farm system, many of whom put on impressive Spring Breakout performances of their own.
Bradfield started in left field and shared the outfield with two fellow primary center fielders -- Vance Honeycutt (Baltimore’s No. 5 prospect) in center and Jud Fabian (No. 23) in right.
Honeycutt (the O’s first-round Draft pick in 2024) hit an inside-the-park homer in the fourth for his first home run since joining the organization. Fabian made an impressive jumping catch in the sixth.
The exhibition ended in walk-off fashion, with Leandro Arias (the Orioles’ No. 20 prospect) hitting a game-winning two-out RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth.
After Bradfield celebrated with all of Baltimore’s talented youngsters who stormed the field, he took a moment to be with his family. Then, he joined up with four of his former Vanderbilt University teammates -- O’s righty Patrick Reilly and Yankees prospects Spencer Jones, Bryce Cunningham and Greysen Carter -- for a group picture at home plate.
Bradfield also reminded Jones that he won their bet and that Jones must now buy Bradfield dinner in the near future.
“I’m definitely going to pick somewhere nice,” Bradfield said.
At the end of the night, it was important to Bradfield to spend some additional time with people who are close to him. He was eventually the final player to leave the field, after signing autographs for every kid that came up to the netting.
More reminders of what the sport means to Bradfield as he continued to mourn the loss of his close friend Hood.
“Us guys who play together -- whether we came across each other years in advance or whatever it may be -- when you step in that locker room,” Bradfield said, “it’s a special bond that you never forget.”
Mack Homers, Pitching Dominates in 2-1 Wahoos Win
Columbus, Ga. - The Pensacola Blue Wahoos got back in the win column on Saturday night, beating the Columbus Clingstones in a game that featured only five total hits between the two teams. Joe Mack gave the Blue Wahoos (10-4) an early lead with a solo homer in the first
Homer Heroics Not Enough as Wahoos Suffer Wild Walk-Off
Columbus, Ga. - Nathan Martorella broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning, but the Pensacola Blue Wahoos couldn't hold the lead in a 2-1, 10-inning loss to the Columbus Clingstones on Friday night. Martorella's homer, the first in the history of
Wahoos Rally in Extras, Hold On for 4-3 Win over Clingstones
Columbus, Ga. - The Pensacola Blue Wahoos played and won their first extra-inning game of the season on Thursday night in Columbus, beating the Clingstones 4-3 in a 10-inning thriller. After blowing a 2-0 advantage, the Blue Wahoos barely held on in their second attempt to preserve a late lead.
Snelling Stellar in 4-1 Wahoos Win over Clingstones
Columbus, Ga. - The Pensacola Blue Wahoos evened up their first road series of the season at one game apiece on Wednesday night, beating the Columbus Clingstones 4-1 thanks to a dominant outing from Robby Snelling. Snelling (W, 2-0) worked 6.0 scoreless innings of one-run ball, striking out six and
Blue Wahoos Blanked by Burkhalter, Clingstones in Columbus Opener
Columbus, Ga. - The Pensacola Blue Wahoos began their road schedule with a loss on Tuesday night, falling 3-0 to the Columbus Clingstones in the first game at the newly-renovated Synovus Park. In front of an eager sellout crowd of 5,041 fans, the Clingstones (5-4) christened their new home with
Fast Start, Strong Relief Give Blue Wahoos Series Win Over Biscuits
Pensacola, Fla. - Getting a fast start Sunday proved enough for the Blue Wahoos to finish a nine-game, season-opening homestand in a desired position. After scoring three runs in the first inning, then taking a 4-0 lead into the middle innings, Blue Wahoos pitcher Luis Palacios was flawless in a
Alderman's Bombs Power Wahoos to 10-5 Win
Pensacola, Fla. - This week for the Blue Wahoos outfielder Kemp Alderman had not gone so well. He changed that Saturday in a huge way. Alderman clouted two home runs, part of a four-hit night with five RBI, as the Blue Wahoos blasted the Montgomery Biscuits 10-5 on a fitting
Laskey Wows in Start, But Blue Wahoos Fall in 3-2 Loss
Pensacola, Fla. - The Blue Wahoos have a promotional ice cream giveaway whenever a Pensacola pitcher first records three strikeouts in an inning. Adam Laskey caused a reorder. Laskey struck out the first six batters he faced, and nine total over 4.0 innings, but the Montgomery Biscuits got enough big
Spohn, Sasaki Lead Two-Out Attack in 8-5 Wahoos Win
Pensacola, Fla. - Harrison Spohn ignores any scenario with each at-bat to ensure a consistent approach. “Just keeping things simple,” he said. “Pretending there’s no one on base, just so my brain doesn’t go crazy.” He was perfectly focused Thursday, driving in three runs on three hits, including a go-ahead
Wahoos Fall Behind Early, Sustain First Loss of Season
Pensacola, Fla. - For the first time in five games, the Blue Wahoos were in a mid-game hole. They weren’t able to climb out. The Montgomery Biscuits jumped to an early lead, extended it to 5-1 in the sixth inning and went on to a 6-3 victory that ended the
Mack's Homer Leads Wahoos to Win and Record-Tying Start to Season
Pensacola, Fla. - Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Mack had a couple hard-hit outs in his first two games to start this season. Fate changed his way Tuesday. Mack blasted a two-run homer, part of a three-hit, three RBI night, then got a birds-eye view behind the plate of reliever Josh
Praytor’s Homer In Debut Pushes Wahoos to Series Sweep
Pensacola, Fla. - The Blue Wahoos have begun a new season in a most desired way. After an early lead Sunday was erased in the middle innings, the Blue Wahoos' bats reignited to power an 8-4 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers and complete a three-game sweep at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Alderman's Grand Slam Powers Pensacola Past Biloxi
Pensacola, Fla. - As the selected player of the game, Kemp Alderman received the customary water bucket dousing by his Blue Wahoos teammates. Two games into this season, it’s the only chill the former Ole Miss star has experienced. Just as Alderman did in October at the Arizona Fall League,
Snelling Sensational in Opening Night Win over Shuckers
Pensacola, Fla. - Robby Snelling made his prior Opening Day start a couple years ago, but not in a packed stadium or this kind of level. “I’m looking forward to being in a great atmosphere,” said Snelling, earlier in the week before the Blue Wahoos' first practice. Friday night, he
Blue Wahoos Opening Weekend: Here's What To Know
After winter workouts and a full month of spring training, a long-awaited moment has arrived. The Blue Wahoos are set to start the 2025 season. Opening Day is now at Blue Wahoos Stadium. It begins with a weekend-opening series Friday night against the Biloxi Shuckers. The players can’t wait. “I
Blue Wahoos Announce 2025 Preliminary Opening Day Roster
PENSACOLA, FL – The Pensacola Blue Wahoos announced Thursday their preliminary Opening Day roster in advance of the 2025 season. The 28-man roster features 23 players who have previously played for the Blue Wahoos, led by returning team MVP and Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove winner Joe Mack. The Blue
Blue Wahoos Announce 2025 Broadcast Schedule and Return to Local Television
PENSACOLA, FL – The Pensacola Blue Wahoos announced Thursday their broadcast schedule for the 2025 season, including opportunities for fans to follow the team all season long on the Blue Wahoos Baseball Network. Regularly scheduled Blue Wahoos home games return to local television in the greater Pensacola area, with Friday
As Blue Wahoos Ready For Opener, Stadium Has Stayed Busy As Event Host
A new season awaits Friday with the Blue Wahoos. But the ballpark itself? It has stayed busy. In fact, when March ended on Monday, it completed a record month for stadium events. Within the 31-day period, the stadium held 24 different events. In one case, there were three different events
Final Prep Game Today At Blue Wahoos Stadium Features West Florida, Milton
The final high school baseball game of 2025 on Friday at Blue Wahoos Stadium features one of the area’s top teams. The West Florida High Jaguars (15-3), ranked No. 6 among Class 3A teams in Florida, face the Milton Panthers (8-7) at 5 p.m. today at the bayfront ballpark. Admission
Escambia High Has Made Games At Blue Wahoos Stadium A Spring Break Reward
When taking over in 2016 as Escambia High’s baseball coach, Tracey King made a point of scheduling a game each season at Blue Wahoos Stadium. “For us, it is our spring break trip,” said King, whose team is soaring with an 11-2 record and unbeaten in District 1-4A. “We try
Blue Wahoos Provide Impactful Experience For Wisconsin-Whitewater Baseball
Months of planning, days of travel, have created an annual mid-March excursion by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team viewed beyond a spring getaway into better weather. It is considered a vital component of the team’s future. “Almost every program at our level now…. all the programs are taking trips.
Blue Wahoos Stadium Going Through Home Improvement Projects Before Season Begins
With the team’s 2025 season less than 30 days away, the largest home improvement project at Blue Wahoos Stadium is progressing toward completion. Most of the enhancements are in areas not visible from the outside, or the seating bowl, but necessities to ensure the team’s future as direct affiliation with
Nine Former Blue Wahoos to Appear in 2025 Miami Marlins Spring Breakout Game
PENSACOLA, FL – Major League Baseball announced on Thursday the rosters for the second annual “Spring Breakout” Prospect Games that will be part of Major League Spring Training and broadcast live on MLB.tv, MLB.com, MLB Network, and the MLB app from March 13-16. The Miami Marlins prospect team will play
UWF Baseball Team Celebrates Return To Blue Wahoos Stadium With Walk-off Win
A return trip by the UWF baseball team this year to Blue Wahoos Stadium became a far different experience. This one was celebratory. Argos’ first baseman Cade Easterbrook hit a slow roller in the ninth inning with the bases loaded, and Alex Urias beat the throw to the plate for
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Principal Owner Quint Studer Wins 2025 Baldrige Foundation Leadership Award
Quint Studer, principal owner of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and co-founder of Pensacola’s Healthcare Plus Solutions Group® (HPSG), has been named one of the 2025 recipients of the Baldrige Foundation Leadership Excellence Awards. The award, given by the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Inc., recognizes leaders who