Billy Butler (baseball)

Billy Butler

Billy Butler with the Oakland Athletics in 2015
Free agent
Designated hitter / First baseman
Born: (1986-04-18) April 18, 1986
Orange Park, Florida
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 1, 2007, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .290
Hits 1,479
Home runs 147
Runs batted in 728
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 who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals from 2007 to 2014, the Oakland Athletics from 2015 to 2016 and the New York Yankees in 2016. Butler was an MLB All-Star in 2012, and won the Silver Slugger Award and Edgar Martínez Award that season.

Amateur career

Butler 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 was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the first round (14th overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft and signed for a $1.45 million bonus, $250,000 below the recommended slot value for that pick. He turned down a scholarship to play for the University of Florida, electing to play professional baseball.[1]

Minor league career

Butler made his professional debut with the Idaho Falls Chukars in the Rookie-level Pioneer League, 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

Butler's sophomore season was a disappointment. His batting average in 2008 fell to .275, his on-base percentage to .324 and his slugging percentage to .400. He was demoted mid-season to Triple-A Omaha, but later recalled. In 443 plate appearances (118 more than his rookie year), he managed only 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 January 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.[7]

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.[8] At the time of his selection, Butler was hitting .297 with 16 home runs and 48 RBIs. He won the American League Player of the Week Award for the week ending on July 29.[9] After the season, he was named a 2012 American League Silver Slugger DH and received the 2012 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.[10]

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.[11] In 2015, Butler batted a career-low .251 with a .390 slugging percentage.[12]

Butler was involved in a clubhouse fight with Danny Valencia on August 19, 2016. He was placed on the seven-day concussion list on August 22 as a result. Both players were fined but neither was suspended.[13]

On September 11, 2016, the Athletics released Butler from his contract. He batted .276 with four home runs and 31 RBIs in 85 games over the year.[12]

New York Yankees

Butler signed with the New York Yankees on September 15 after a season ending injury to Aaron Judge.[14]

Personal life

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 a family in central Florida as well. His nickname was coined by former St. Joseph News-Press sports editor Ross Martin in response to Butler's size. [15]

References

  1. ↑ Kimmey, Will (November 19, 2004). "Top 10 Prospects: Kansas City Royals". Baseball America. Retrieved October 21, 2006.
  2. ↑ "Futures Game History: All-Time Roster (1999-2006)". MLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2006.
  3. ↑ "Butler Selected MVP of 2006 Futures Game". MLB.com. Retrieved March 9, 2007.
  4. ↑ "Royals recall Butler after putting Sweeney on disabled list". kansascity.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2007. Retrieved June 19, 2007.
  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. ↑ "About Us - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center" (PDF). Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Ervin Santana of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Billy Butler of the Kansas City Royals named American League Co-Players of the Week". Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  8. ↑ Sanchez, Jesse (July 1, 2012). "Rosters unveiled for 83rd All-Star Game". MLB.com. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Butler of the Kansas City Royals named the American League Player of the Week". Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Billy Butler earns Martinez Award for top DH". Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Billy Butler, A's agree to 3-year deal". ESPN. November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  12. 1 2 Wagaman, Michael. "A's release veteran designated hitter Butler". mlb.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  13. ↑ Shea, John; Slusser, Susan (August 22, 2016). "Fight between Butler, Valencia exposes A's chemistry issues". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  14. ↑ http://m.mlb.com/news/article/201436292/former-as-dh-billy-butler-to-join-yankees/
  15. ↑ "Nickname 'Country Breakfast' originated in St. Joe". Retrieved September 12, 2016.

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