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Red Sox minor leaguer Drake Britton arrested for DUI 03.05.13 at 10:53 am ET
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Drake Britton

Red Sox minor league pitcher Drake Britton was arrested on a DUI charge following an incident in Estero, Fla., early Saturday morning, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s office.

Britton, a 23-year-old lefty who was in his first spring training with the major league team, also faces charges of reckless driving and property damage. According to the arrest report, Britton was driving 111 mph in a 45 mph zone. While being pursued by police, Britton’s pickup truck swerved between other vehicles before jumping a curb and eventually knocking over a barbed-wire fence. Britton continued driving down a dirt road for another quarter-mile and attempted to pull into a wooded area before stopping.

Britton refused a breath test but told the arresting officer he had been drinking, and he exhibited visible signs of inebriation, according to police.

Britton had been scheduled to pitch against the Yankees on Sunday but was scratched. He was demoted to Double-A Portland on Monday.

Britton, a 23rd-round pick in the 2007 draft out of Tomball (Texas) High School, started last season in Single-A Salem (Va.) and made 10 starts, going 3-5 with a 5.80 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 45 innings. He then joined Portland and made 16 starts, going 4-7 with a 3.72 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings.

UPDATE: The Red Sox released a statement Tuesday afternoon that read:

“This is a matter that the Red Sox take very seriously, and it is being addressed. The club will not make further comment on this matter.”

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  • EdRomero11

    David Wells must be proud

  • AndyP

    Wow.  Brentz shoots himself and now this.  The Sox need to give test prospects for some degree of common sense before they draft them.

    • Guest

      If you figure out what test to give, there are many people in general we should give it to!

    • Guest

      If you figure out what test to give, there are many people in general we should give it to!

  • AndyP

    Wow.  Brentz shoots himself and now this.  The Sox need to give test prospects for some degree of common sense before they draft them.

  • Twinhernandez09

    Only the Red Sox !!

    • Bhdyer20

      If you think this only happens with the Red Sox then you don’t pay attention to the news.  Every team in every league has issues like this.

    • Fab4ever

      You’re kidding, right? Only The Red Sox??? It’s everywhere my man…

    • Rubiconsedge

      Only the Red Sox?  This happens to every team from time to time, unfortunately.  Remember Joba Chamberlain a few years ago?  The thing that bothers me most about this incident is driving 66 miles per hour OVER the speed limit.  More or less attempted manslaughter

  • Twinhernandez09

    Only the Red Sox !!

  • Doug from Woburn

    The good news is he didn’t kill a innocent person. The bad news is Alfredo Aceves is his mentor.

  • Carson

    I want to be a baseball player when I grow up.

  • Biff Lowman

    Yeah but how is his fastball?

  • Dano50

    111 in a PICK-UP???  He’s lucky to still be alive.  This kid should be locked up for a spell.  And certainly lose his license for a long time.  Another Texan bone head.

    • Fab4ever

      I believe he got nailed on 41…if so, he was just asking for trouble…the route is crawling with cruisers at night…

      • Ham Slice Alert

        Crawling with cruisers?  What, hoverounds for all the bluhairs?  C’mon mang!!

    • Uncle Buck

      At 4am in the morning no less.  And he was scheduled to start the game vs the Yankees the next day.  I heard when the officer asked for his license he handed over his debit card. Hey, we all have done some stupid things in our lives, but that is a cut above (or below) stupid.    

  • SoxFanstuckinTexas

    Interesting how so many of the north houston area guys gotta stick to the alcohol theme.  After dealing with many college age kids recently it is amazing with what they think they can get away with from watching movies and youtube posts … hope the judge in the case removes his drivers license from him for a few years.

  • Jfaust1954

    good to see the young lad takes bad news so well…

  • Mal Tempo

    You’ll notice that none of the “beat” writers for the Sox reported this.

    • cynicalaboutweeiscribes

      No way to spin an overly exagerated headline about the future on this one.

  • http://www.facebook.com/anthrocoon Bob Nelson

    recall ex Sox P Josh Hancock, killed when he drove drunk (and was texting) doing 68 in a 55 zone. Crashed into a stopped tow truck. Not wearing seatbelt. Hancock’s blood level was .15, almost twice the limit

  • Anonymous

    Great. We’ve got our very own Nuke LaLoosh.

  • Anonymous

    I am sure he was drinking alone either, just the only one who got caught

  • Dewey

    No, no kid……it’s Spring TRAINING, not Spring Break!

  • Dewey

    No, no kid……it’s Spring TRAINING, not Spring Break!

  • Guest

     Loser.

    • Fab4ever

      Whoops. You’re perfect….

      • Bsox67

        Come on Fab..You won’t people to dole out sympathy to this moron?  111 mph in a 45 mph zone????. He’s lucky he didn’t kill someone.

  • Molly

    RELEASE HIM

  • SeanSoxFan

    not the way to celebrate your first meaningless game with the big club…could well be the only chance he ever gets… cut him.

  • Really_33

    fried chicken in the car too?

  • Everyone

    What a dipshite.

  • AL34

    So far one guy has shot himself and now this guy gets arrested for a DUI. Do these guys have brains when they draft them ?

  • Bruinman86

    Time to grow up kid.

  • http://www.facebook.com/mark.demaio1 Mark DeMaio

    love all you self-righteous bastards….go be yankee fans cause you suck…

  • Mike

    Stop drafting worthless high school bums moronic front office!! He probably looks up to his idols Beckett and Lackey.  Fits right in with this dumb organization.  

  • Xander Bogaerts

    No wonder this guy couldn’t throw strikes.

  • http://twitter.com/Zj_6 Zack Jones

    He should be suspended for at least 50 games. IMO this is far worse than a failed PED test

  • Bielawski82

    Judging from his profile picture it looks like he’s been sparking up some fresh greens too…

  • Chazcoe21

    this guy gets cut then goes to the bar and gets trashed then drives? wtf. there are many of people in the world that do that, but how come this kid gets to wear a RED SOX uniform?

  • Amy Everpean

    What a poor decision on his part, this is something that could ruin his life, i hope he got a good lawyer!  My brother recently made the same stupid mistake and got a lawyer from http://www.lickyourtickets.com, they totally helped him with his case and gave him the motivation he needed to move forward.

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