"It drives me to work on what I need to work on and really focus," Britton said. "Playing with Matusz and learning a lot from him and watching him play against High-A hitters, and now I see him in the big leagues, it's amazing. And just knowing that he can be successful at this level, it just gives me some confidence, too."
Britton jumped from 21st to 12th on Baseball America's ranking of Orioles prospects and likely will be in the top 10 in 2010.
Britton's catcher at Frederick thinks the lefty should be mentioned along with the organization's other prized prospects.
"Without a doubt," said Keys catcher Caleb Joseph. "I like it for him, though. Being the sleeper, he can just kind of move up and before you know it he's at Camden Yards and everybody's like, 'Who is this guy?' "
What sets Britton apart, Joseph said, is his attitude.
Britton's laid-back and easygoing off the field, but, according to Stockstill, on the mound, "he can be pretty mean."
It's that attitude, combined with a sinker that might be the best pitch in the Orioles' minor league system, which could earn him a big league promotion as early as next season.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he starts at Double-A next year and goes straight up, skipping Triple-A," Joseph said. "That's how dominant he is going to be."
