| Billy Butler | |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals – No. 16 | |
| Designated hitter\First Base | |
| Born: April 18, 1986 | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| May 1, 2007 for the Kansas City Royals | |
| Career statistics (through 2011) |
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| Batting average | .297 |
| Home runs | 74 |
| Runs batted in | 373 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Billy Ray Butler (born April 18, 1986 in Orange Park, Florida) is a Major League Baseball Designated Hitter for the Kansas City Royals. He has also played first base, left field and right field. Butler was given the name "Country Breakfast" during the 2011 baseball season.
Butler was selected by the Royals in the first round (14th overall) of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft out of high school and signed for a $1.45 million bonus, $250,000 below the recommended slot value for that pick. He attended Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was teammates with fellow first round draft pick Eric Hurley, a pitcher selected by the Texas Rangers. He turned down a scholarship to play for the University of Florida to go pro.[1]
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He played his rookie season at the age of 18 in 2004 with the Royals Pioneer Baseball League affiliate Idaho Falls Chukars, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he batted .373 with 10 home runs and 68 RBIs in 73 games.
In 2006 Butler led the Texas League with a .331 batting average. Despite taking time out to play for Team USA Butler amassed 96 RBIs while playing right field for the Double-A Wichita Wranglers. A third baseman in high school, Butler played right field and left field for Wichita in 2006. He was also selected to play for the United States squad in the 2006 All-Star Futures Game, where he hit the go ahead home run and was selected game MVP.[2][3]
Butler made his major league debut on May 1, 2007, singling in his first at bat, but was sent to the minors after playing 10 games. He was recalled on June 19 after the Royals put slugger Mike Sweeney on the Disabled List.[4] Butler batted .292 in his rookie year with 8 home runs and 52 RBI. In 2008 he batted .275 with 11 HR and 55 RBI. In 2009, Butler batted .301, while surpassing 500 at bats for the first time in his career. He solidified himself as the Royals' number three hitter with his emerging gap power and improved discipline at the plate. Butler lead the Royals with career highs in RBI (92) and doubles (51), nearly eclipsing Hal McRae's team record of 54. He also has a career high in home runs, with 21. He was named Player of the Week twice. He also has played almost all of the 2009 season at first base, whereas before he was almost exclusively the designated hitter - citing the importance of a first baseman known for above-average hitting to also be focused in the other aspects of their play. Only five players had ever hit at least 20 Home Runs and 50 doubles in a season by his age.
The 2010 season saw a slight drop in Butler's power numbers, dropping from 21 home runs and 92 RBI to 15 home runs and 78 runs batted in, respectively. However, he also posted an impressive .318 batting average, the highest of his career to that point. His .388 on-base percentage was also a career best. He also hit 45 doubles. Butler spent the 2010 season playing primarily first base.
On Jan. 23, 2011, Butler agreed to a $30 million, four-year contract with the Royals.[5]
In 2011 season, the promotion of first baseman Kila Ka'aihue from Triple-A Omaha meant that Butler would spend time alternating between first base and designated hitter to open the 2011 campaign. However, with Ka'aihue's demotion in May, the athletic Eric Hosmer was called up from Triple-A Omaha and became the team's everyday first baseman, with Butler becoming the full-time DH. On July 26, 2011, Billy Butler was a triple-short of a cycle in a loss to the Boston Red Sox. Butler followed that performance with four home runs in the next three games.
He is married to Katie Hansen Butler and has one child, a daughter, Kenley, who was born December 10th 2008. They live most of the year in Scottsdale, Arizona.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Justin Huber |
All-Star Futures Game Most Valuable Player 2006 |
Succeeded by Chin-Lung Hu |
| Preceded by Kendry Morales |
American League Player of the Month September, 2009 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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