Britton talks about making the Futures Game

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  Steve Melewski

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  June 23, 2010 1:07 pm

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Zach Britton was probably not expecting to find out this way.

But when he got to his locker in the clubhouse Tuesday afternoon at Reading, there was an official looking letter from Major League Baseball.

“When I got to my locker (yesterday) there was a letter from Major League Baseball. I wondered if I was in trouble. But then I saw it was a nice letter saying ‘Congratulations, you’ve been selected to participate on the USA team for the 2010 MLB All-Star Futures Game.’

“This is real…Zach Britton was probably not expecting to find out this way.

But when he got to his locker in the clubhouse Tuesday afternoon at Reading, there was an official looking letter from Major League Baseball.

“When I got to my locker (yesterday) there was a letter from Major League Baseball. I wondered if I was in trouble. But then I saw it was a nice letter saying ‘Congratulations, you’ve been selected to participate on the USA team for the 2010 MLB All-Star Futures Game.’

“This is real exciting. I have a lot of family in the Anaheim area, so they’ll be real excited to see me throw.”

It’s a well deserved honor for one of the O’s top young pitching prospects. Britton is 6-3, 2.62 in 14 games for the Baysox over 79 innings. He is 5th in the Eastern League in ERA.

Over his last six starts, Britton is 4-0, 1.40. Over his last three starts, the lefty has given up just one earned run over 19 1/3 innings.

“Talking to (teammate) Pedro Beato. He took part in this game before and said it was one of the best things he’s ever done in his baseball career. He said to soak it all in and it’s real fun experience.”

Britton played high school baseball in Texas, but grew up in Santa Clarita, California, north of Los Angeles. So it will be a homecoming of sorts when he participates in the Futures Game.

“I knew the All-Star game was in Anaheim coming into this year. I thought if I pitched well, maybe I could have this opportunity. I know it’s up to the Orioles and Major League Baseball who goes, so I’m happy they feel I was deserving of the honor.”