{{short description|American baseball pitcher (born 1989)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Drake Britton | image = Drake Britton on July 20, 2014.jpg | image_size = 240px | caption = Britton with the Pawtucket Red Sox | position = Pitcher | bats = Left | throws = Left | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|5|22}} | birth_place =Waco, Texas, U.S. | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = July 20 | debutyear = 2013 | debutteam = Boston Red Sox |finalleague = MLB |finaldate = September 28 |finalyear = 2014 |finalteam = Boston Red Sox | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Win–loss record | stat1value = 1–1 | stat2label = Earned run average | stat2value = 2.93 | stat3label = Strikeouts | stat3value = 21 | teams = * Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2013}}–{{mlby|2014}}) }} '''John Drake Britton''' (born May 22, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox.
==Early life== Britton was born in Waco, Texas.<ref name="Information Guide">{{cite book|title=2016 Detroit Tigers Media Guide|year=2016|pages=65–67|url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/det/fan_forum/mediaguides.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418042232/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/det/fan_forum/mediaguides.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2009}}</ref> He attended Tomball High School. In 2006, his junior season, he was recognized as an Aflac All–American. Later that same year, he took part in the Junior Olympics operated by USA Baseball.<ref name="Information Guide"/>
==Professional career== ===Boston Red Sox=== The Boston Red Sox selected Britton in the 23rd round of the 2007 MLB draft. Britton signed a $700,000 signing bonus with the Red Sox.<ref name="Soxprospects.com">{{cite web|url=http://soxprospects.com/players/britton-drake.htm|title=#31 Drake Britton|publisher=Soxprospects.com|accessdate=21 November 2011}}</ref> He began his professional career in 2008 with the Class A short-season Lowell Spinners. He appeared in eight games, making seven starts, and recorded an ERA of 4.28 over 33.2 innings.<ref name="BRef Minors">{{cite web|title=Drake Britton Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=britto001dra|website=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports-Reference.com|accessdate=June 24, 2017}}</ref>
In 2009, Britton split time between the Gulf Coast League Red Sox and Lowell; he combined to appear in 11.2 innings over seven games. He missed most of the season due to Tommy John surgery.<ref name="Soxprospects.com"/>
2010 saw Britton promoted to the Class A full-season Greenville Drive, where he started 21 games and compiled a 2.97 ERA.<ref name="BRef Minors"/>
Britton was promoted once again in 2011 to the Salem Red Sox. In Salem, Britton made 26 starts and posted a 1–13 record.<ref name="Information Guide"/> His 13 losses were a league high and His 6.91 ERA was the worst for all Carolina League starters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=deffbaab&sort_by=L|title=2011 Carolina League Pitching Leaders|publisher=baseball-reference.com|accessdate=21 November 2011}}</ref>
In November 2011, Britton was added to the Red Sox' 40-man roster to prevent other teams from selecting him in the Rule 5 Draft.<ref name="Cole">{{cite web|url=http://www.nesn.com/2011/11/will-middlebrooks-che-hsuan-lin-drake-britton-added-to-red-sox-40-man-roster.html|title=Will Middlebrooks, Che-Hsuan Lin, Drake Britton Added to Red Sox' 40-Man Roster|last=Cole|first=Mike|date=November 19, 2011|publisher=NESN.com|accessdate=21 November 2011}}</ref>
Britton split 2012 between Salem and the Double–A Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League.<ref name="BRef Minors"/>
Britton remained with Portland at the start of the 2013 season.<ref name="Information Guide"/> He joined the Triple–A Pawtucket Red Sox on July 5, and was then called up to the major leagues on July 14.<ref name="Information Guide"/> His MLB debut came on July 20 as he did not allow a run in one inning against the New York Yankees.<ref name="Information Guide"/> On July 31, Britton tossed a pair of shutout innings against the Seattle Mariners to earn his first MLB win.<ref name="Information Guide"/>
===Chicago Cubs=== Britton was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs on February 4, 2015. He was outrighted off the roster on April 3.<ref name="Information Guide"/> During the 2015 season, Britton played for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. He pitched in 28 games, including 11 as a starter, and compiled a 7–8 record with one save, a 5.08 ERA, and 45 strikeouts.<ref name="BRef Minors"/> An injury to his left shoulder caused Britton to spend some of late August and early September on the disabled list.<ref name="Information Guide"/>
===Detroit Tigers=== On December 11, 2015, Britton signed a minor-league contract with the Detroit Tigers, and was invited to spring training.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/12/11/detroit-tigers-prospects-roster/77151446/|title=Tigers sign 17 minor leaguers, invite 6 to camp|first=James|last=Jahnke|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=December 11, 2015|accessdate=December 11, 2015}}</ref> In 37 appearances for the Toledo Mud Hens, Detroit's Triple–A affiliate, Britton posted a 4.57 ERA over {{fraction|41|1|3}} innings.<ref name="BRef Minors"/> On August 2, 2016, Britton was suspended 50 games for violating the terms of the Major League Baseball drug policy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2016/08/02/tigers-minor-leaguer-britton-suspended-50-games/87965050/|title=Tigers minor leaguer Britton suspended 50 games|first=Chris|last=McCosky|newspaper=The Detroit News|date=August 2, 2016|accessdate=August 2, 2016}}</ref> He elected free agency following the season on November 7.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=July 20, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2016 |language=en}}</ref>
===Bridgeport Bluefish=== On March 14, 2017, Britton signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the 2017 season.
===Southern Maryland Blue Crabs=== On November 1, 2017, Britton was drafted by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the Bridgeport Bluefish dispersal draft. On March 21, 2018, he signed with the Blue Crabs for the 2018 season. He became a free agent following the 2018 season.
==Personal== On March 5, 2013, he was pulled over driving {{convert|113|mph}} in a {{convert|45|mph}} zone at 4:14{{nbsp}}am. He allegedly handed police his debit card when asked for ID. He was charged with DUI. The incident happened hours before a scheduled spring training start with the Red Sox.<ref name="Edes">{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/9018223/2013-spring-training-drake-britton-boston-red-sox-prospect-arrested-dui-charge|title=2013 spring training -- Drake Britton, Boston Red Sox prospect, arrested on DUI charge|last=Edes|first=Gordon|date=March 5, 2013|work=ESPN Boston|access-date=14 June 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|mlb=518493|br=b/brittdr01|brm=britto001dra|espn=31257|fangraphs=2868}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Britton, Drake}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Baseball players from Waco, Texas Category:Boston Red Sox players Category:Greenville Drive players Category:Gulf Coast Red Sox players Category:Iowa Cubs players Category:Lowell Spinners players Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Pawtucket Red Sox players Category:Portland Sea Dogs players Category:Salem Red Sox players Category:Toledo Mud Hens players Category:Bridgeport Bluefish players Category:Southern Maryland Blue Crabs players Category:Doping cases in baseball Category:American sportspeople in doping cases