Zach Britton

by bravitos5122 on Jun 11, 2009 6:39 PM EDT

Is this guy going to shoot up prospect radars? I have owned him in a deep keeper league for a couple years now and he has been getting better each year. Left handed, lots of groundballs, good K/9 and apparently improved velocity. I don't think he is too far off of the Big 3 in the Orioles system but I may be biased. But based on scouting reports and numbers there is a lot to like.

21 years old. 2.11 ERA 59 IP 45 H 53/30 K/BB 2.46 GO/FO

His command has taken a step back but I don't think its a major concern.

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Pretty decent pitcher

Every time I read something about him it seems to bring up the possibility of him ending up in relief. Baltimore’s deep corps of excellent starting pitching prospects would also seem to point in that direction…

by alskor on Jun 11, 2009 6:43 PM EDT reply actions

I disagree

I dont really see why they would convert him to a reliever with the way hes pitching, even with the O’s deep young pitching depth. They guy’s a groundball machine and a lefty with pretty good stuff, so moving him to the bullpen dosent really make sense to me.

by soxrchamps07 on Jun 11, 2009 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, he only has two pitches, for one thing.

by alskor on Jun 11, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe he has three..

Hes got the really good sinker paired with a slider and change-up that seem to get better after each start.

by soxrchamps07 on Jun 11, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, he will move up...

…simply because so many prospects won’t be prospects when the season is over, including many of the O’s pitching prospects. But I’m not going to get carried away. At 21, Britton is the same age as Tillman, but not pitching as well despite being in Hi A rather than AAA. And he lacks the sort of overpowering stuff that lets you dream on his dominating in the future.

But he’s a lefthanded groundball machine, and that has a lot of value. We’ll see.

by James F on Jun 11, 2009 9:33 PM EDT reply actions

Lacks overpowering stuff?

He is actually now touching 95 MPH with his power sinker, and up until a few starts ago was tracking over a K per inning. His biggest questions aside from overpower stuff was the 3rd pitch which he has progressed from being nonexistent to atleast major league average right now. He is pitching as well as Tillman minus the K’s, he just isnt in AAA. IMO he belongs on a prospect list, if he isnt there this year, I expect him to definately be there next year….

by QBsIllest1 on Jun 12, 2009 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

Here we again. . .

DHernandez k’d Ken Griffey with a 97mph fastball, does that mean he’s constant there?? NO
I believe Britton touched 95, but I betcha he’s sitting at 90-92 mph range.

by orioole26 on Jun 12, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

He may sit in the low 90’s but when he has to, he can overpower someone with a 95 MPH fastball, so he can be overpowering…….He used to top out around 92, now that he sits 92-93 and tops out at 95, I consider that to be over powering. Not majorly , but a 95 MPH fastball is overpowering……His K rate has also increased as he has ascended through the minors which is a good sign of his development and velocity

by QBsIllest1 on Jun 13, 2009 3:12 PM EDT reply actions