Britton retiring from professional baseball

PHOTO COURTESY OF MLB

Shocking news from the ranks of Minor League Baseball made its rounds over the weekend as 2017 Batesville graduate Zach Britton announced his retirement from professional baseball.

Britton has spent the past four seasons inside the Toronto Blue Jays and has spent the past two years with Double-A affiliate New Hampshire. His retirement hit the wire on Friday as part of Toronto’s daily transaction report.

A former University of Louisville standout and fifth round draft pick by Toronto in 2020, Britton had played 55 games for New Hampshire in 2024 and had a batting average of .205 with four home runs, 28 RBI and 24 runs. He also hit 10 doubles as part of this season and also stole five bases with 21 walks drawn. While numbers perhaps may not have led in a variety of statistical categories, Britton’s biggest accomplishment was spending these past few months healthy.

Britton received invites by the Blue Jays to MLB Spring Training in back-to-back years but in-season injuries also in that span for New Hampshire derailed him and hampered moving up through the ranks. He played in just 17 games as part of the 2023 season and dealt with injuries also in 2022 despite being called up to Double-A. His everyday resurgence back into the lineup as a catcher had provided promise for not only him, but those following his career.

No official statement had been released by Britton to offer a reasoning behind the retirement by time of print.

Britton’s career comes to a close with a lifetime batting average of .223 with 174 hits, 22 home runs, 132 runs, 100 RBI and 23 stolen bases.