In the fifth and final round of the shortened 2020 MLB Draft, another Louisville player was selected. OF/DH Zach Britton was chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 136th pick.
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The 6β1 230 lbs junior from IN was a career .280 hitter for the Cards. He appeared in 110 games while starting 69 of them. In his career, Britton had 24 doubles, 2 triples, 7 homers, drove in 60 runs, and scored 56 runs. His on-base percentage was .395 and his slugging percentage was .455.
This season was the year Britton was supposed to be an everyday starter whether in the OF or in the role of DH. He was arguably having his best season before the pandemic struck. Britton was hitting .322 and had 19 hits in 59 at-bats. He led the NCAA with 11 doubles before the cancellation of the season. He also added a triple and scored 14 runs.
Britton is a contact hitter with gap to gap power. Heβs a doubles machine that has a short, sweet swing. He does have some pop in his bat and could develop his power a little more in the minors to become a 20 homer guy. A good fielder, I expect Brittonβs bat to be what gets him to the majors. I think the Blue Jays will let him work in the field a lot in the minors, but I think he projects as a DH in the majors. The Blue Jays, as an AL team, likely believe that DH will be where he will contribute most to their team.
Congrats to Zach Britton on being drafted. If he continues to develop for Toronto at the rate he did at Louisville, Britton will become a solid Major League player; possibly an every day starter. He certainly has the bat to do it.
