Zack Britton returns to Orioles as guest instructor, reunites with brother Buck

SARASOTA–What’s happening? For this spring training, the Orioles decided to bring nine former players to serve as guest instructors. One of them, Zack Britton, not only had the best season of any Orioles’ relief pitcher in history, but he has a brother who’s a new Orioles major league coach.

Zack was a third-round pick in 2006 and pitched for the Orioles from 2011-2018. In 2016, the left-hander converted all 47 of his save opportunities, allowing just four earned runs in 67 innings for a microscopic 0.54 ERA.

He left the Orioles in July 2018, when the team began its radical rebuild. Hs helping pitchers and keeping up with his brother, Buck, for three days.

Buck Britton was a 35^th-round pick of the Orioles in 2008 but never played in the majors. He was in the Orioles’ organization as a utility player, and was best known as Zack’s brother.

“I just wanted to be around my brother and wherever he was going to be,” Zack Britton said. “Whether it was here or somewhere else, I wasn’t really sure. You never know how that stuff’s going to shake out. But now that he’s back, it’s obviously a perfect fit for me to get involved. Mike Elias and Brandon Hyde, they asked me if I had any interest and I really appreciated the invite, getting back in it.”

Buck Britton said last weekend that he was looking forward to being with his brother in uniform, even if it was only for three days.

“It’ll be cool. We got to spend some time on the field together in Triple-A when we were playing,” Buck Britton said. “He was a little more serious back then. He’s unemployed, by the way. I’m the guy who’s still hanging on here. It’ll be fun. I’ll get to tell stories, probably lie a little bit about him in my favor. I just want to see him hit a fungo. I don’t know if he can handle that.”

It was seven years since Zack Britton had been to Sarasota. No players with whom he played remain on the team, and except for his brother, the coaches are unfamiliar. So much has changed.

“Most of it positive,” Britton said. “Obviously, the new ownership group here, sounds like they have a lot of great plans for the organization, and maybe some resources that are going to go back into the team, which is great.

“That was a little bit different than when I was here. We were kind of always like, ‘Hey, what we have in that room is what we have and make the most of it’ kind of thing, and we did. But it’s always nice to know that maybe you’ve got a little bit more firepower behind you to add some pieces or even improve some things in the stadium. Whatever it is to make your life a little bit easier.

“These guys are in a really good spot, and I’m looking forward to watching them and kind of being a little bit more invested in what’s going on here now that I’m done playing.”

What’s happened? The Orioles again took live batting and fielding practice in Ed Smith Stadium. Right-hander Dean Kremer made his first appearance in the ballpark.

The Orioles’ clubhouse was closed this morning for the team’s annual photo day.

What’s up with? Terrin Vavra is back with the Orioles after a brief stint with the Seattle Mariners. Vavra, who played 67 games in 2022 and 2023, was claimed off waivers by the Mariners last August 23 and by September 7^th was back in the Orioles’ organization.

He was re-signed to a minor league contract on February 5^th and is one of many non-roster infielders in camp.

“It’s nice to be back and be around all the guys and be around the coaching staff.” Vavra said. “Thankfully, I have some familiarity with them. Just grateful for the opportunity.”

Vavra had shoulder surgery in September 2023 and played only 65 games.

“It’s been difficult to say the least, personally,” Vavra said. “Last year was very choppy. I’m excited to have a healthy offseason and go into this year with a full head of steam.”

Vavra knows that it will be difficult to make the Orioles, but last year, the team used 60 players.

“I know that this team is very talented, and there are a lot of guys at the top, but I also know from being around the game, it takes more than 26 to go out and bring a championship team on the field, so whether that’s in April, in June or in September, I’m going to be ready.”

What’s what? It’s great that the Orioles are bringing back some of their best players from recent years. Britton, J.J. Hardy, who will arrive on Thursday, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis were among a group of players who can provide great coaching to the current group.

What’s the word? “Being done playing, it’s great to have somebody that’s still in the game and I can pull for him now. He used to watch me on TV. Now I can pull for him and his team. I hope that he does some great things in the game and is around for a long time.”-Zack Britton on Buck Britton

What’s the number? 139. Britton’s 139 saves were second-most in team history, trailing only Gregg Olson’s 160.