Red Sox Prospect Drake Britton Arrested For DUI, Reckless Driving

If you were wondering why Drake Britton was scratched from his scheduled Sunday appearance, and then subsequently optioned to Double-A Portland on Monday, you don't have to wonder any longer. According to Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston, the Red Sox prospect was arrested on Saturday morning for reckless driving, and driving under the influence.

Britton was reportedly driving 111 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone before 5 am, swerving in and out of traffic until he finally drove over a curb and through a barbed-wire fence. Thankfully, it doesn't sound as if anyone was hurt during Britton's irresponsible and reckless driving.

According to the Lee County Sheriff's website, the 23-year-old Britton paid out bonds for charges of reckless driving, a DUI for alcohol or drugs, and a traffic offense for property damage coinciding with the DUI. His trial is set for March 18, and while it's a first offense on all three charges, 111 miles per hour is well beyond the felony speeding mark by itself, never mind combined with the DUI and property damage.

While Britton hasn't been suspended by the Red Sox for the incident, being removed from major-league camp so early, and sent to Double-A Portland -- where Britton finished last season -- rather than Triple-A Pawtucket, where a strong spring could have landed him, is punitive in a sense. One wonders how this will affect his standing in the organization going forward.