Joe Jordan talks Britton and Mahoney
Orioles amateur scouting director Joe Jordan was beaming just a little bit Friday night, like a proud papa, or proud uncle anyway.
Two of his prized draftees – Zach Britton, a third-rounder in 2006, and Joe Mahoney, a sixth-rounder in 2007 – were honored by the Orioles on Friday at Camden Yards.
Britton, who was a combined 10-7 with a 2.70 ERA in 27 combined games at Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Bowie, was named the Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Mahoney, who hit .307 with 30 doubles, 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 124 combined games at High-A Frederick and Bowie, was named the Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year.
Mahoney wasn’t on a lot of people’s radar to begin the season; he wasn’t listed in Baseball America’s Top 30 prospects in the Orioles organization this year. But Jordan said he felt this would be Mahoney’s season.
“He was my pick to click in spring training. … He has gotten into a lot better rhythm with his pre-swing routine. He has got strength. He’s got unbelievable power. And this year his swing kind of came together.”
What has impressed Jordan the most is an attribute not expected from a 6-foot-6 first baseman.
“The thing that Joe is that I don’t think we quite realized is that he is so athletic,” Jordan said. “We didn’t realize he could run like he could run. We didn’t realize that in spring training 2010 he would have the highest vertical jump of any minor league player that we have, and he did. Higher than (Xavier) Avery, higher than any of them, 38 ½ inches.”
As for Britton, well Jordan has been a big fan of this kid since he saw him pitch at a Texas high school. But in the last year, Jordan said the 22-year-old lefty has really impressed.
“I think last year at this time, yeah, we felt like we were on. We had us a good one. But his stuff took a jump this year,” Jordan said. “He added a full grade to his fastball, if not more at times. His slider improved at least a grade and he started using his changeup, so everything started coming together.”
One more parting quote about Britton from the man who drafted him:
“Zach Britton is a pro. You tell him what he needs to do and he is going to do it,” Jordan said. “He has always been that way. He is a dude.”
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
DAN & JOE good story. I read early this year Britton was told he had to work on some things and he did exclusivly even staying with it in games at the cost of his personal stats but determined to learn asap which it is obvious he did.. HE is supposed to have a very very good fastball which has very heavy sink even when thrown hard.. Mahoney sounds like he is really coming on but we still need that slugging 1B this year when Mahoney arrives Buck will find a place to bat him then.. If he is that athlectic maybe he could play LF.
Posted by: grant | September 18, 2010 8:27 AM
Could you share Mahoney's position with us? The bit about speed and ability to leap is good, but where does he play on the diamond? What are his defensive skills and where does he project to play in the future?
Posted by: Fritz | September 18, 2010 9:53 AM
About seven lines down Fritzy....read the part about the 6'6" first baseman.
Posted by: wild bill hagy | September 18, 2010 2:31 PM
Fritz, article says Mahoney is a first baseman.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 18, 2010 3:13 PM
Supposedly Mahoney is a 1B. He is supposed to be pretty solid there. He's actually the first prototypical 1B the Os have had there in the organization in a while. Everyone else always seemed to be a little bit off, such as, righthanded, or, a little small, or, not quite the bat you expect there, or the defense is questionable, or, etc etc..
My question for Dan is what kind of player does Mahoney supposedly project to be? The jump to AA without hurting the numbers is a very good sign.
Posted by: Eddie in NYC | September 18, 2010 3:28 PM
Supposedly Mahoney is a 1B. He is supposed to be pretty solid there. He's actually the first prototypical 1B the Os have had there in the organization in a while. Everyone else always seemed to be a little bit off, such as, righthanded, or, a little small, or, not quite the bat you expect there, or the defense is questionable, or, etc etc..
My question for Dan is what kind of player does Mahoney supposedly project to be? The jump to AA without hurting the numbers is a very good sign.
Posted by: Eddie in NYC | September 18, 2010 3:29 PM
I hope that Britton puts in some real work this winter. I'd love to see him keep that ERA under 2.80 as he continues to develop in AAA. He would be a sure in-season call-up in 2011, if not, definitely promoted to the starting rotation in 2012.
Garland, Guthrie, Matusz, Bergesen, Tillman, Britton
Posted by: dspedden | September 18, 2010 3:44 PM
Mahoney is a 1B. he's got above average range. .990 fielding percentage isn't great but he's only 23, still has time to work on that. he has also played 29 games in LF but his numbers are a lot worse (small sample size of course).
Posted by: David | September 18, 2010 4:31 PM
So excited for each Joe and Zach. Hopefully Zach is not delayed too much longer, but that's based on reading and not having seen the guy actually work. I wonder if a hot spring training can really put him on the 25, I doubt it. I guess he's the 6th/7th man between Patton and Venderhurk.
Posted by: paulie | September 18, 2010 4:49 PM