MLB Draft: Toronto Blue Jays select Zach Britton in the fifth round

The Toronto Blue Jays select Zach Britton as their final pick of the 2020 MLB Draft.

The shortened 2020 MLB Draft is complete for the Toronto Blue Jays. With their fifth-round pick, they selected, left fielder Zach Britton out of Louisville. Britton was the No. 136 pick of the draft. Cue the Orioles jokes now…

General Information

Age: 21
DOB: 09/09/1998
Bat/Throw: L/R
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 200 pounds
Hometown: Batesville, Ind.

Not to be confused with the New York Yankee reliever, Britton comes from an excellent Louisville program. Before the 2020 college season came to a halt, he was one of three players to start all 17 games for the Cardinals. Britton finished with a .322 batting average with 12 extra-base hits and 12 RBIs. He also led all of Division I with 11 doubles.

As a sophomore, the 6-foot-1 outfielder played in 55 games with 30 starts. Britton finished that season with a .288 batting average with five home runs and drove in 28 runs. In three seasons with Louisville, Britton’s career slash line is .280/.455/.395. The 21-year old played in the outfield in 2020. However, he has spent time at first base and as a catcher in college.

Britton joins Austin Martin, CJ Van Eyk, Trent Palmer, and Nick Frasso as the other Blue Jays draftees. They took two position players and three pitchers. All five picks came from the college ranks.

As the fifth and final selection for the Blue Jays this year, Britton continued the trend of college players selected. He also continues the trend of defensively versatile players that the Blue Jays have seemed to covet, having experience in the infield, outfield, and also at catcher earlier in his career. His bat will likely determine how far his professional baseball career goes, but he should have the versatility to fit somewhere if his offence can carry his value.

All in all, the Blue Jays had a very successful five round draft this year. It’s unfortunate that we can’t immediately follow these new players, but regardless, the organization definitely improved this week.