Zack Britton announces retirement, reflects on 'special' time with Yankees
During his rehab from Tommy John surgery, with the Yankees’ 2022 season in progress, Zack Britton often mentioned why he’d dedicated himself to returning at full strength.
“Hopefully, I can get a World Series ring out of it,’’ Britton said. “That would make this all worth it.’’
On Monday, Britton officially declared his retirement from baseball, ending a 12-year career that fell short of a world championship.
But the lefty reliever made a significant impact in the Baltimore Orioles’ ascension to AL East contender as their closer, and he became a Yankees’ bullpen mainstay in a setup role.
Britton, 35, announced his retirement via The Athletic, in an article written by Brittany Ghiroli.
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As Britton recalled to Ghiroli, his last pitch in the majors was against the Orioles in September 2022, a ball that bounced off the backstop.
“It might not have been perfect from a career standpoint or going out on a high note, but you don’t always get to pick,’’ said Britton. “My gut was telling me it was time to see what life was like on the other side.’’
Britton is looking forward to spending more time at home in Austin, Texas, with his wife Courtney and their four young children.
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A third-round draft pick by Baltimore in 2006, Britton converted full-time to relief pitching in 2014, the start of a sensational three-year run, posting a 1.38 ERA and averaging 40 saves per season.
Featuring a “bowling-ball’’ sinker, Britton induced groundball outs at a stunning pace and struck out 215 batters (against just 55 walks) in 209 innings, with only eight homers allowed from 2014-16.
In the Athletic, Britton praised his former Orioles manager Buck Showalter with important career guidance, adding that Showalter’s managing career shouldn’t be defined by the decision not to use Britton in a 2016 AL Wild Card loss at Toronto, the year Britton posted a 0.54 ERA in 69 games.
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Traded to the Yankees near the 2018 deadline, having rehabbed from a torn Achilles, Britton signed that offseason to what ultimately became a four-year, $53 million contract.
“Putting on that uniform and walking into the clubhouse, the history of it hits you,’’ Britton told The Athletic. “I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world.
“I wish I had won a World Series (in New York). I wish I hadn’t been injured as much as I had. That was special.’’
During the 2020 pandemic season, Britton – a key voice in the MLB Players Association during his career - became an important conduit between Yankees players and management, earning public praise from GM Brian Cashman.
Zack Britton's advice for the Yankees' winter plans
Britton told The Athletic that he’s open to a potential baseball future as an executive, and he’s got some advice for Cashman as the Yankees – coming off their first playoff miss since 2016 – dive into the free agent and trade markets:
Bring in some A-list talent.
“When I was with the Orioles, you were intimidated to play them. They had so much talent…they were so imposing, and I feel like we lost a little of that when I was there,’’ Britton told The Athletic.
“How do you get back to that? For me, with the Yankees’ budget, they should get the best players. They have, to some extent, but really building powerhouses to make it a place people want to play.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Zack Britton retires after long career with Orioles, Yankees
