Blue Jays' Britton Harnessing Light-Tower Power At First Spring Camp

Zach Britton's powerful swing and defensive versatility are turning heads at Blue Jays camp.

© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

DUNEDIN, FL — If you watch any tape on Zach Britton, the pop at the plate catches your eye. The Blue Jays prospect is thunderous from the left side, and when he connects, the crack off his bat is incredible.

Britton flashed that nuclear power February 28 against the Phillies. He got a pitch down and in and punished it, rocketing the ball 408 feet to right-center field at an exit velocity of 106.8 mph. It was a true moonshot, a good indicator of what the 24-year-old can do with the lumber in his hands.

A lot of prospects rile fans up during spring training, but Britton is legitimately deserving of the attention. Last season, he slashed .238/.381/.444 in 76 games split between High-A and Double-A. The next step was the Arizona Fall League, where Britton performed even better, hitting 19-for-47 with one homer, 13 RBIs, and a 1.057 OPS, earning the tournament's equivalent of an All-Star nod. 

Britton attributes his success to the constant adjustments he’s made over the last two years. Lately, it’s been about calming his mechanics in the box.

“Hitting-wise, it’s been my gather, my load, quieting it up a little bit,” the Jays’ 2020 fifth-round pick said. “And being able to hit really anything in the strike zone and do damage.”

This is quite the reversal for Britton, whose mechanics weren’t quite as gentle during his days as a slugging catcher at the University of Louisville.

“It was similar to [Christian] Yelich, where I had a big sway back, a big backward move to go forward,” he said of his old swing. “And now I kind of start back and let everything work.”

Britton’s load and stride are now more subtle, but the swing itself remains a tornado of whip and power. Britton garnered a few whistles from the crowd at Publix Field Saturday against the Tigers after he swung through a 3-1 fastball with a mighty cut. 

Britton is 2-for-8 with one homer, one triple, one RBI, and one walk through his first six spring games / © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The key this year for Britton is about knowing when to unleash the herculean hack. Pitch selection is king as he tries to chop down the strikeouts.

“I’ve known the strike zone my whole life,” said Britton, who owns a 15.7% walk rate in the minors. “[It’s about] really understanding what pitches I hit well and what counts go in my favor based on the pitcher. Yeah, I think I've always had the eye, but understanding what pitches I can do damage with has been big for me over the past couple years.”

The Indiana native is gradually becoming a more complete hitter. Even his minor-league teammates can’t help but admire his progress.

“He deserves every bit of [his success],” said Addison Barger, Britton’s teammate in the minors. “He’s a great hitter; he’s a big-league hitter, and he’s gonna be good.”

Barger, who’s having a torrid inaugural spring season himself, said he’s always admired Britton’s eagle eye, as well as his ability to drive the ball the other way. Off the field, the pair are good friends – Barger said Britton has an intense side to him, which helps make him a strong leader.

"I think I've always had the eye, but understanding what pitches I can do damage with has been big for me over the past couple years.”

Leadership is one quality drawn from Britton’s background as a catcher. His roots in baseball were originally tethered to the dirt behind home plate, but the Blue Jays see his role a little differently.

GOODBYE SAYS BRITT! Zach Britton tears one down the line, and we're within one 😤😤#HomeRunsforHunger

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— New Hampshire Fisher Cats (@FisherCats) August 10, 2022

Britton is on track to become a full-time outfielder, where his athleticism is an asset, but the priority is to get Britton’s heavy bat in the lineup. If he can slide into a corner outfield spot, there will only be more opportunities to take cuts.

But all that time as a field general wasn't wasted. In fact, Britton’s come-up as a catcher helps him see the game in a unique light.

“The biggest thing with catching is it helps you see the whole field,” Britton said. "You definitely get a feel for what every guy is supposed to be doing in every situation. So, taking that to the outfield, it definitely helps you slow the game down and understand where you need to throw the ball [and] where the cut-off guys are going to be.”

As Britton builds up experience, both at the plate and in the field, the impact of his first major-league spring camp won’t be taken for granted.

"[Making the big leagues] has always been a goal of mine since I was little, eight or nine years old,” he said. “And I always had it in the back of my mind. But getting here and seeing guys that I saw on TV when I was 12 and 13 years old and playing alongside them has definitely been a realization moment. I'm super grateful for the opportunity to be able to do so.”