For a guy with a 22-17 career record, a 3.23 ERA, and twice as many strikeouts as walks, Zachary Britton sure doesn't get a lot of attention.
A third-round pick who puts up the kind of numbers that Britton has usually is considered a top-level prospect. Yet somehow, Britton couldn't even crack the organization's top 10. Some bemoan his lack of strike-throwing ability, while others say he doesn't work deep enough into games.
But the facts speak clearer than any opinions. When Britton is on his game, he is one of the best that the Orioles have to offer.
Britton was the 85th pick in the 2006 MLB Draft, the same draft in which the O's also took Billy Rowell, Pedro Beato, and Ryan Adams. So far, Britton has more than surpassed the results of the other three. This year, he has been at his best, establishing himself as the ace of the Frederick Keys High-A team, a team that included higher profile names like Brian Matusz and Timothy Bascom.
His journey began as a highly touted high school prospect out of Weatherford High School in Texas. Britton had signed a letter of intent to pitch at Texas A&M, but the prospect of playing pro ball and a six-digit signing bonus were just too much to pass up.
And so began his playing career, starting at rookie-level Bluefield. Britton started 11 games, mostly struggling, and gave up way too many hits and way too many walks. He ended up winless (0-4) on the season and his ERA was 5.29.
Britton fine-tuned his repertoire over the 2006 offseason, adding a changeup to his four-seam fastball, sinking fastball, and slider. All his extra work paid off, and both Britton and the Orioles began to see immediate progress in 2007.
Starting the year at short-season Aberdeen, Britton, 19, anchored the staff, going 6-4 with a 3.68 ERA and played the entire season as the youngest player on the team. He improved both his strikeout and walk numbers while allowing roughly the same amount of runs in twice as many innings.
A strong 2007 ticketed Britton for his first year of full-season ball. In 2008, he took the mound for the Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds, part of a rotation that included Sean Gleason, Luis Noel, Nathan Nery, and Tony Butler.
Again, the youngest player on the team, Britton experienced a true breakthrough season, upping his win total to 12 and lowering his ERA to 3.12. He also pitched a career-high 147.1 innings, setting career highs in strikeouts and games started.
Yet, despite all the stats signaling Britton as a star on the rise, many scouts questioned his ability. Many tabbed him as a Major League reliever in the best case scenario. Those same scouts pointed out that Britton only averaged a little over 5.1 innings per start.
And while his strikeout ratio climbed for the third consecutive season, his walks per nine innings stayed about the same, signaling a problem that he has had throughout his career with walks.
This season, Britton followed the natural progression and received the bump up to High-A Frederick. For the first time in two years, Britton didn't have to play the role of ace, with 2008 first round pick Brian Matusz being counted on to anchor the rotation. He was also no longer the freshest face on the team, with fellow 2006 draftee Billy Rowell taking that crown.
None of that stopped Britton from pitching out of his mind. The lefty put up numbers that were not only spectacular, but better than the No. 4 pick in the draft Matusz, pitching at the same level but a year his junior.
Now that Matusz has left for AA Bowie, Britton has once again regained his role as staff ace. On the season, he has only four wins and two losses in 14 games, but his ERA is at an all-time low, a league-leading 2.14.
His strikeout numbers are on pace to set a career high, but unfortunately so are his walks. Britton has been at his best during the past 10 games. During that stretch, dating back to May 5, Britton has gone 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA. He has struck out 55 and walked 22 in 56 innings.
Still, Britton has been hard-pressed to impress his critics, who once again cite his innings per start rate, hovering again around 5.1. Their opinion of Britton has seemed to soften somewhat, as many now see him as a back-of-the-rotation starter, but most still view him as a long-man in the bullpen at best.
Regardless, Britton is halfway through his fourth professional season, and has better career numbers than any Orioles farmhand who's been around that long. Provided that he continues to pitch as well as he has so far this season, Britton should be ticketed for AA Bowie next year, with a promotion to AAA Norfolk as soon as mid-2010.
He may eventually hit the wall, so to speak, as soon as next season even, but if Britton does continue to pitch well, he could force his way into the Orioles' long-term plans.
For now though, the Orioles are glad to have Britton pitching the way he is, and they'll happily cross that bridge when they come to it.
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