Zach Britton feels ready to rejoin the Orioles

Orioles closer Zach Britton has pronounced himself ready to return to the big league club after pitching back-to-back days the last two days for Double-A Bowie and Single-A Frederick. He still does have one more rehab outing to go Monday at Triple-A Norfolk and his official return should be next Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Last night, Britton pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning at Frederick. It was his sixth minor league rehab outing spread through four different affiliates, with Norfolk being the fifth.

"It was good," Britton said of the outing with Frederick. "It was 11 pitches. Felt good, threw breaking balls and I felt ready to go after that one. I felt I was ready to pitch in the big leagues. Ramon Martinez (special assignment pitching instructor) was there. We talked about it. Definitely sharp and ready to go, and he felt the same way.

"The last one in Bowie, I felt like I was there (ready to return), but I could use another inning. After probably the second hitter yesterday, I knew I was ready to go. Now I have to do one in Norfolk, obviously. I wish I didn't have to, but that's kind of where we are."

Britton has thrown six innings for the affiliates, allowing three hits and one run with two walks and seven strikeouts on 82 total pitches.

At this point, there are no more hurdles to clear. No more tests to pass.

"Not anymore. It's pretty much get through Norfolk, don't do anything stupid and just get up to Milwaukee," Britton said. "But I've thrown all my breaking balls. My command has gotten better as I've gone on, my velocity has gone up and the sinker is there. Delivery feels good. There is really not a whole lot I need to work on other than get through that inning in Norfolk.

"Competition-wise, nothing prepares you for the big leagues. I've known that since I was in the minors. This is a completely different level. But if anything, it's about getting innings no matter what level."

Britton has not had any soreness or issues from the left foream strain that sent him to the disabled list for the second time, retroactive to May 5. His last Orioles game was May 4 in Boston.

"No. I mean (Dr. Neal) ElAttrache had told me when I came back, there should be no reason why I feel any soreness," Britton said. "The muscle would heal and it's not going to come back ever. You should never feel soreness in there, and I haven't. So when we took the two weeks off, he was dead on with what he and (Dr. Michael) Jacobs thought was going to happen, and I've felt good."

The Orioles took a conservative plan with Britton after he needed a second DL trip and he feels that was the right decision.

"Yeah, I think the rehab process, the stuff I did with (minor league medical coordinator) Dave Walker in Florida, being conservative on the front end, not throwing as soon as I wanted to throw, was probably the smart play. I haven't had any soreness or anything so it was the right way to go," he said.

Now Britton hopes to go back to pitching at an All-Star level to help a team trying to stay in the pennant race.

"The last two series on the road we played very well," Britton said. "More up to the standard that we are capable of playing. It's just about being consistent. Yeah a lot can happen. We're still right in there. Everyone in the division has gone through their scuffles, so we're right in there. After the break, we've got to pick it up. It's not just one person, everyone has to do it collectively."

And even though he is not on the active roster tonight, Britton is at Camden Yards for his bobblehead night tonight.

"I've got a nice beard. It's pretty cool, but I'm sure my kid will break it when I get home," he joked about his bobblehead.

It's @zbritton bobblehead day! The first 25,000 fans 15 & over at today's 4:05 pm game vs TB will take one home. #Birdland pic.twitter.com/yn3WspiaO5

-- Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 1, 2017