Baysox Utility Man Britton Eager to Join Brother at the Major League Level

Buck Britton sat in the stands of Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field in early April, along with several members of his family, watching on as his brother, Zach, made his major league debut for the Orioles.

“It was crazy,” Buck recalled. “I was super proud of him. Seeing him out on the mound was pretty surreal. That’s always been a dream of both of ours to get to the major leagues.”

Now, just as Zach fulfilled his dream, Buck hopes to fulfill his as well, eager to one day be able to join his brother at the major league level.

Zach was drafted by the Orioles in the third round of the 2006 MLB draft. Buck, who is a year and a half older than Zach, was drafted by the Orioles two years later, in the 35th round of the 2008 draft.

And while he struggled some early in his professional career, Buck has found himself continuously progressing during the last two seasons. The versatile infielder, who can also play the outfield, batted .260 for Class-A Frederick last season and is hitting a combined .309 between Frederick and Class-AA Bowie this year with 28 extra base-hits (21 doubles, two triples, five home runs) and 49 RBI. Buck, who turned 25 earlier this year, hit .341 in 25 games with Frederick prior to being promoted to Bowie in May. And after a slow start with the Baysox, he had just three hits in his first 17 at-bats, Buck is batting .304 during the last three months.

“He’s done really well,” said Zach, who is currently on disabled list with the Orioles. “He’s really starting to put himself on the map a little bit. Just being up at the big league level, and talking to [Orioles manager Buck] Showalter and some of the other staff, they notice the good things that he’s doing.”

Zach, who compares Buck to Detroit Tigers utility man Brandon Inge, says Buck’s versatility defensively, having the capability to play so many different positions, combined with the improvements he’s made at the plate will one day earn him a shot at the major league level.

Inge, a former second-round pick, has played for the Tigers since 2001, seeing time as a third baseman, catcher and outfielder during that span.

“I like to compare him to a Brandon Inge-type of player,” Zach said, “a guy who is going to make his living, his career off of just being a gamer, playing hard all nine innings, being able to play multiple positions, having you know that you can put him anywhere and that he’ll also be consistent for you offensively.”

Zach added, “He’s probably going to be playing a different position every time you see him, but he’s going to be a great defensive player for you and is going to be a consistent bat in your lineup, consistently getting on base.”

The brothers, who live together in Baltimore, consistently provide each other with encouragement. Buck, in particular, says the feedback he receives from Zach, telling him he has the necessary tools to compete at the big league level, has provided him with confidence.

“He’s there [in the majors], see’s the competition and knows what type of player I am, and how I play, and brings back advice and lets me know that I can play at the level,” Buck said. “That definitely helps my confidence a lot.”

And while focused on helping Bowie finish the season strong, also hoping to help them compete for an Eastern League title, Buck can’t help but look ahead from time to time and think about how special it would be to one day join his brother at the major league level for the Orioles.

“It would mean a lot,” Buck said. “I don’t even know if I could describe how it would feel, just the level of excitement. I know what it was like for Zach, seeing that, and it was an emotional time. But, if I just got to stand at an infield position with him on the mound, backing him up, trying to keep guys off base and from scoring runs off of him in the big leagues that would be special for me, special for him and just special for everyone in our family.”