O's Zach Britton to pitch for Shorebirds
Baltimore Orioles pitcher and two-time MLB All-Star Zach Britton is joining the Delmarva Shorebirds following a brief stint with the Aberdeen Ironbirds.
An Orioles' official said the move was likely, with Britton expected to join the team after the All-Star break on Thursday. The Baltimore Sun also reported the transfer.
Nicknamed “Great Britton,” the 29-year-old has struggled with injuries throughout the 2017 season, dating back to April 16, when he was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to tightness in his forearm.
Britton made his way back to the active roster, but was placed once again on the DL for similar problems in the same arm. On June 20, the Orioles’ reliever was placed on the 60-day disabled list to make room for Baltimore outfielder Craig Gentry.
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Britton was then assigned to rehab with the Ironbirds — a Short-A minor-league team in the Orioles farm system.
In one game, Britton pitched a single inning in which he finished with one strikeout and a walk while not allowing a hit. The game was the first competitive action Britton had seen since May 4, when the Orioles defeated the Boston Red Sox, 8-3.
Through eight games with the Orioles in 2017, Britton tallied five saves, seven strikeouts, allowed 12 hits and put up a 1.00 ERA. In his six seasons in Baltimore, the reliever has an overall 3.20 ERA, 390 strikeouts and 125 total saves.
In 2006, Britton was a third-round selection by the Orioles in the MLB Draft. Before joining the team in 2011, the left-handed pitcher played for Bluefield, Aberdeen, Frederick and Delmarva.
A member of the 2008 Shorebirds, Britton saw action in 27 games and finished with a 3.12 ERA and tallied 114 strikeouts through 147 innings pitched. Britton was used primarily as a starting pitcher during his time on the Shore.
He will join a crowded Shorebirds’ pitching staff which already houses three Top 30 Orioles’ Prospects – LHP and Delmarva All-Star Alex Wells, RHP Matthias Dietz and LHP Zach Muckenhirn.
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The Orioles pitcher will enter Delmarva with some familiarity in the organization. Along with being a former member, his brother, Buck, was hired as the Shorebirds’ hitting coach prior to the season. Buck was drafted in the 35th round by the Orioles in 2008 and played nine years in the minors before making the switch to coaching this season.
While on the Shore, Britton will be under the tutelage of pitching coach Justin Lord, a former pitcher in the Royals and Pirates farm systems. Though it is unclear how long Britton will remain on Delmarva, he told BMore Opinionated he expected to pitch more than once.
The Shorebirds will hold a "Zach Britton Bobblehead Night" on Friday when Delmarva takes on the Lakewood Blueclaws.
Fresh off the All-Star break, the Shorebirds hold a 29-39 overall record and sit at the sixth spot in the Northern Division of the South Atlantic League Standings. The team will enjoy and eight-game home stand before hitting the road June 30 to take on the Kannapolis Intimidators.