Billy Butler (baseball)

Billy Butler

Butler batting for the Royals on July 27, 2009
Oakland Athletics – No. 16
Designated hitter/First baseman
Born: April 18, 1986
Orange Park, Florida
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 1, 2007 for the Kansas City Royals
Career statistics
(through April 16, 2015)
Batting average .295
Hits 1287
Home runs 128
Runs batted in 634
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Billy Ray Butler (born William Raymond Butler, Jr.; April 18, 1986), nicknamed "Country Breakfast", is an American professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals from 2007 to 2014.

Butler was selected by the Royals in the first round (14th overall) of the 2004 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, electing to play professional baseball.[1]

Minor league career

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. He was the Kansas City Royals Minor League Player of the Year, a Pioneer League All-Star and a Rookie League All-Star. The next year, Butler was the California League Rookie of the Year, a 2005 High A All-Star, Baseball America 1st team Minor League All-Star, Kansas City Royals Minor League Player of the Year, California League All-Star and the California/Carolina League All-Star Game MVP.

In 2006 Butler led the Texas League with a .331 batting average. Despite taking time out to play for the U.S. national baseball team, 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]

Major League Baseball career

Kansas City Royals

2007

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.

2008

In 2008 he batted .275 with 11 HR and 55 RBI.

2009

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 led the Royals with career highs in RBI (92) and doubles (51), nearly eclipsing Hal McRae's team record of 54. He also had 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 hit at least 20 home runs and 50 doubles in a season by his age.

Butler was named the American League Player of the Week two times (August 2–8 and September 7–13). He was the American League Player of the Month for September. He was named the 2009 Royals Player of the Year.

2010

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.

2011

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. Butler won the 2011 Hutch Award. [6] He was the American League Player of the Week for July 25–31.

2012

On July 1, 2012 Butler was selected to his first All-Star Game as a reserve on the American League roster. No Royals player was selected by fan or player vote but American League All-Star Team manager Ron Washington made Butler one of his seven selections.[7] At the time of his selection, Butler was hitting .297 with 16 home runs and 48 RBIs. He was named a 2012 American League Silver Slugger DH and received the 2012 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.[8]

2013

On May 28, 2013 Billy Butler got his 1,000th hit in the first inning, bringing in Alex Gordon against St. Louis Cardinals' rookie pitcher Tyler Lyons. He played in all 162 games, hit 15 home runs and drove in 82 runs while drawing a career high 79 walks. He had a slash line of .289/.374/.412.

2014

Butler had one of the worst statistical years of his career in 2014, hitting only nine home runs and amassing 66 RBI. His batting average, on base percentage, and slugging were all the lowest of his career. Leading into the World Series, Butler was batting .217 with 5 RBI in eight postseason contests. Following the season, the Royals declined Butler's club option, making him a free agent.

Oakland Athletics

On November 18, 2014, Butler signed a 3 year, $30 million contract with the Oakland Athletics.[9]

Personal

He is married to Katie Hansen Butler and has a daughter, Kenley, who was born December 10, 2008. They live most of the year in Scottsdale, Arizona. He has family in central Florida as well.

References

  1. ↑ Kimmey, Will (November 19, 2004). "Top 10 Prospects: Kansas City Royals". Baseball America. Retrieved 2006-10-21.
  2. ↑ "Futures Game History: All-Time Roster (1999-2006)". MLB.com. Retrieved 2006-10-21.
  3. ↑ "Butler Selected MVP of 2006 Futures Game". MLB.com. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
  4. ↑ "Royals recall Butler after putting Sweeney on disabled list". kansascity.com. Archived from the original on 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  5. ↑ "Billy Butler, Royals agree to new deal." ESPN. January 23, 2011. Accessed April 17, 2011. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6049428
  6. ↑ http://www.fhcrc.org/about/ne/events/hutch_award/docs/2012_Hutch_Award_Winner_Release_FINAL.pdf
  7. ↑ Sanchez, Jesse (July 1, 2012). "Rosters unveiled for 83rd All-Star Game". MLB.com. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  8. ↑ http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121204&content_id=40519910&vkey=news_kc&c_id=kc
  9. ↑ "Billy Butler, A's agree to 3-year deal". ESPN. November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.

External links

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