Most recently, it was Brian Matusz who made the transition from starting pitcher to integral part of Buck Showalter’s bullpen, posting a 3.53 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 65 games.
In 2014, Zach Britton is looking to follow in Matusz’s footsteps.
With competition for the rotation stiff in spring training, the coaching staff determined Britton would break camp as a member of the bullpen. He’s looked right at home there in the early going this season after a great spring.
Scouts from other teams made regular appearances at Orioles spring training games this year to get a look at Britton, who many feel could still be starter in the majors. With the way he threw in the exhibition season, it’s hard to blame them. In nine spring games, Britton surrendered just six hits and one earned run with 11 strikeouts over 10.2 innings.
Heading into 2014, Britton had made just two relief appearances at the major league level with one coming in 2012 and one in 2013. He’s made five so far this year and has allowed just two hits, three walks, and no runs in 8.1 innings.
According to leverage data compiled by Baseball Reference, two of Britton’s appearances have begun in high leverage situations, two have been medium, and one has been low.
Among American League relief pitchers this season, Britton is tops in games with 3+ outs recorded (4) and games with more than one inning pitched (4). His 8.1 innings pitched places him third.
They key to Britton’s success has been a sinking fast ball that he’s utilized 90% of the time with an average velocity of 95 mph, per Brooks Baseball, (107 of 119 total pitches). 13% of those pitches have been missed by bats. Most of the rest have been beaten into the ground with 80% of batted balls having resulted in ground balls.
Overall, opponents are hitting just .083 with a .167 slugging percentage versus Britton’s sinker
Where Zach Britton’s future lies, of course, remains to be seen. If he keeps pitching the way he has, could we see him in the starting rotation at some point? It’s entirely possible. Or, do you not mess with what’s working and leave him in a role he’s excelling in at the moment? Either way, it’s not necessarily the worst problem to have.
For now, Britton is just one of two left-handed pitchers in the Orioles’ bullpen (along with Matusz) while Troy Patton is serving a 25-game suspension. And his left arm is one that has been both reliable and highly productive through the team’s first 11 games.
photo: Craig Landefeld
