I`d like some opinions on Zach Britton.

by soccerman0 on Sep 24, 2008 2:57 PM EDT

Britton has been known as a high ceiling guy since he was drafted in 2006 by Baltimore. In his pro baseball debut in the ARP league, he posted a 5.29 ERA with a 21/22 SO/BB ratio in 34 IP.

In 2007, Britton saw some good improvement posting a 3.68 ERA with a 45/22 SO/BB ratio in 60+ IP while pitching Aberdeen in the NYP league.

2008 saw Zach break out; he posted a 3.12 ERA with a 114/49 /BB ratio in 147 IP with Delmerva.

Where do you see Britton next year? What do you think his ceiling is? Where is he in the hierarchy of Baltimore pitching prospects?

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Britton is pretty under the radar

But I think he’s a very good pitching prospect.

Britton is a lefty with a low-90s fastball than he can dial up to the mid-90s. He has a groundball % as good as anyone (on par with Chacin). He has solid K & BB rates and, at 20 years old, he was age-appropriate for the Sally league.

Britton is still pretty raw, but he projects as a #2/#3 starter is his secondary stuff develops.

He should spend all of next season in the Carolina league, unless he really forces a promotion. There are plenty of arms ahead of him in the Oriole pitching pipeline: Patton, Olson, Liz, Tillman, Matusz, Arrieta, Hernandez, Erbe, Bergesen, Berken, and Spoone.

by dkdc on Sep 24, 2008 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

Any word on...

What else he is throwing in terms of breaking pitches?

by soccerman0 on Sep 24, 2008 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

From today's BA Sally Chat

Q: Peter from NYC asks:
I believe LHP Zach Britton should have easily made the list? He had a .224 BAA and was in the top 10 in WHIP, IP, and ERA. He is only 20 years old so age was not a factor. Why did he miss the list?

A: Bill Ballew: I seemed to like Britton more than many of the managers. I think many of them simply did not see him that much. I didn’t, either, but I liked what I saw when I did. His improved slider has elevated his entire game because he’s always had the live fastball. I believe he’s a guy who is flying under the radar from a national standpoint.

Q: Jalah from Astoria, NY asks:
Hi, who are your biggest surprises and disappointments in the league?

A: Bill Ballew: Great question. The biggest disappointments were Lexington’s Max Sapp and Asheville’s Brian Rike. The biggest surprises are tougher to determine, based on the level. Zach Britton is a strong consideration in that category, and to the extent at which he dominated, Mike Stanton.

by dkdc on Sep 24, 2008 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions