Orioles' Britton more focused on fastball command than throwing slurve

Orioles closer Zach Britton didn't need to rely much on a breaking ball last season, as his two-seam fastball was effective in helping him close out 37 games.

However, Britton said he worked on adding a slurve -- hybrid curveball and slider -- to his repertoire this spring in case he needs another pitch to stay ahead of hitters.

"I've gotten really good results with it over the course of my career, but last year I didn't get to throw it very much," he said, per MASNsports.com. "New role and I didn't want to get beat with my second-best pitch. Even in spring training, we preach fastball command, so I really got away from my breaking ball. I've worked to incorporate the breaking ball more this year at spring training...

"Hitters will make adjustments, but it's not this big thing where you have to change everything you do. At the end of the day, if I locate a fastball, they can know it's coming -- and toward the end of last year they did -- but if I locate it, I will get outs."