Zach to the Futures

Baysox starting pitcher Zach Britton will be playing in the XM All-Star Futures Game on July 11 as part of the Taco Bell All-Star Sunday in Anaheim, Calif. It is a great honor for the young left-hander, who continues to pile awards and accolades onto his already impressive baseball resume.

It is a well-deserved distinction for Britton, who held a 2.62 ERA at the time he was named to the USA team at the Futures Game and maintained a 1.82 ERA over his previous 10 starts. Britton has lived up to his reputation as a human groundball machine, using his formidable sinker and slider to induce an Eastern League-best 3.19 ground outs-to-air outs ratio.

While his career could go far with the two pitches that have carried him to where he is now, Britton, Baysox Pitching Coach Kennie Steenstra and Orioles coaches have been working hard to turn his change-up into a third plus-pitch that could make him a force to be reckoned with once he reaches the Major Leagues.

Over the off-season, he worked with his friend and former teammate, Orioles lefty Brian Matusz, who taught Britton the grip that he uses on his quality change-up. Matusz, along with 2009 Baysox teammate Chris Tillman played in last year's Futures Game.

His hard work with the pitch seems to be coming to fruition. On the orders of Orioles farm director John Stockstill, he threw the change 22 times in his recent two-hit, six-inning shutout performance against the Harrisburg Senators on June 19.

"When I came into this year, I felt like if I get the change-up down, I'm ready for whatever the next step is," Britton said after that game. "I feel like today was the day when I was like, 'Dang, it's getting better every time I throw it.' Every time I let one come out of my had, I can feel like I have to make an adjustment here or there. I threw a lot them 3-1 and guys were so far in front; it made my other pitches so much better which is what you want to do."

It is the second all-star trip to Southern California for Britton in as many years, after he was named to the Carolina League All-Star team in 2009, which played the California Leauge All-Stars in Lake Elsinore, Calif. At the end of that season, he was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Year. Such trips to showcases out West are a special treat for Britton, who was born in Panorama City, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles, and still has family in the area that will get to see him pitch.

Participants in the All-Star Futures Game are often on the fast-track to the Major Leagues. Nearly two dozen of last year's 50 selections have secured places on big league rosters, including Matusz, Jason Heyward, Starlin Castro and Pedro Alvarez. It is difficult to guess how much longer the Baysox will enjoy Britton's services on the mound, but it seems clear that he is a rising star with a very bright future.

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