Joey Butler
Butler with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014
Designated hitter / Left fielder
Born: (1986-03-12) March 12, 1986
Pascagoula, Mississippi, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: August 7, 2013, for the Texas Rangers
NPB: July 1, 2014, for the Orix Buffaloes
Last appearance
MLB: October 4, 2015, for the Tampa Bay Rays
NPB: 2014, for the Orix Buffaloes
MLB statistics
Batting average.274
Hits75
Home runs8
Runs batted in31
NPB statistics
Batting average.231
Hits12
Home runs2
Runs batted in6
Teams

Joseph Frank Butler (born March 12, 1986) is an American former professional baseball designated hitter and left fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, and St. Louis Cardinals, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes.

Butler is the only player since at least 1901 who hit two home runs in his final major league game.[1]

Background

Born and raised in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Butler attended Pascagoula High School. For the Pascagoula Panthers, Butler played baseball, football, and basketball.[2] A standout athlete, Butler later attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College before transferring to the University of New Orleans. At New Orleans, Butler was teammates with Johnny Giavotella, and the school made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.[3] In his two seasons at New Orleans, Butler had a batting line of .342/.403/.541 in 119 games.[4]

Career

Texas Rangers

Butler was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 15th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, as a right fielder.[5] Despite hitting exceptionally well in college, scouts were concerned with Butler's defensive abilities.[6] He made his professional debut with the Low-A Spokane Indians, batting .301/.417/.434 with 4 home runs and 31 RBI in 62 games. In 2009, Butler played for the High-A Bakersfield Blaze, hitting .280/.343/.416 with 12 home runs and 76 RBI. The following season, he played for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders, posting a .277/.340/.409 slash with 10 home runs and 58 RBI in 132 games. For the 2011 season, Butler split the year between Frisco and the Triple-A Round Rock Express, hitting a cumulative .313/.388/.483 with a career-high 14 home runs and 61 RBI. Butler returned to Round Rock for the 2012 season, slashing .290/.392/.473 with new career-highs in home runs (20) and RBI (78). He began the 2013 season with Round Rock.[7]

On August 5, 2013, The Rangers selected Butler to the 40-man roster and called him up to the majors for the first time.[8] He made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter for Leonys Martín, but lined out against Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Maronde in his only at-bat. Butler was optioned back to the Triple-A Round Rock Express on August 10 to make room for Alex Ríos, but was recalled on September 3 when major league rosters expanded. Butler went 4-for-12 in 8 games for Texas before he was designated for assignment on September 30.[9]

St. Louis Cardinals

On October 3, 2013, Butler was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals.[10] On March 27, 2014, Butler was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and assigned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.[11] On May 9, Butler was selected to the active roster. He made his Cardinals debut on May 10, 2014, after getting called up on May 9. He struck out, pinch-hitting in the seventh inning at Pittsburgh. He was optioned to Memphis on May 21 after going 0-for-5 in 6 games and was granted his outright release by St. Louis two days later to pursue an opportunity in Japan.[12]

Orix Buffaloes

Butler batting for the Orix Buffaloes in 2014

After he was given his release by the Cardinals, Butler had his contract purchased by the Orix Buffaloes of the Nippon Professional Baseball League of Japan on May 23, 2014.[13] He made his NPB debut on July 1, 2014. In 21 games as a right fielder for the Buffaloes, Butler hit .231 with two home runs and six RBIs.[14] He became a free agent after the season.

Tampa Bay Rays

On January 10, 2015, Butler signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He was assigned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls to begin the year before being selected to the major leagues on May 3. He hit his first MLB home run on May 4, a two-run homer off of Boston Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz.[15] On July 1, he broke up Carlos Carrasco’s 8 2/3 innings and two-strike long no-hitter with a single.[16] In 88 games for Tampa Bay, Butler slashed .276/.326/.416 with 8 home runs and 30 RBI. On December 3, 2015, Butler was designated for assignment following the team's acquisition of Hank Conger.[17]

Cleveland Indians

On December 7, 2015, Butler was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians. After failing to make the 25-man roster out of spring training, Butler was optioned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. Butler was designated for assignment on July 31, 2016 to make room on the 40-man roster for Andrew Miller,[18] and was outrighted to Triple-A on August 5. He finished the year with Columbus, hitting .240/.318/.344 with 8 home runs and 42 RBI in 118 games. Butler elected free agency on October 3, 2016.[19]

Washington Nationals

On February 10, 2017, Butler signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals organization.[20] Butler spent the year with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, but appeared in just 28 games due to injury and hit only .215/.311/.329 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI. He elected free agency on November 6, 2017.

Personal life

Butler is married and has two children, a daughter and a son.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Consecutive games with Home Runs >= 2". Stathead.com.
  2. ↑ "Rays Tales: Joey Butler's long journey to prove himself".
  3. ↑ "Former UNO star Joey Butler gets the call to the Majors | NOLA.com". Archived from the original on 2013-08-17.
  4. ↑ "Who is Rays rookie Joey Butler". 18 June 2015.
  5. ↑ Wills, Todd (October 3, 2013). "Cardinals claim Butler from Rangers". ESPNDallas.com. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Who is Rays rookie Joey Butler". 18 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Joey Butler Minor, Fall, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History".
  8. ↑ Texas Rangers add Joey Butler, designate Adam Rosales for assignment
  9. ↑ Grant, Evan (September 30, 2013). "Texas Rangers to hit Nelson Cruz sixth as DH; Joey Butler designated for assignment". Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  10. ↑ Wills, Todd (October 3, 2013). "Cardinals claim Butler from Rangers". ESPNDallas.com. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Joey Butler Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  12. ↑ "Orix Buffaloes Purchase Joey Butler's Contract from Cardinals". 23 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "Off Cards' 40-man roster, Butler heads to Japan". MLB.com. May 23, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Joey Butler Minor, Fall, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History".
  15. ↑ Eddy, Matt (January 11, 2015). "Minor League Transactions: Dec. 24-Jan. 8". Baseball America.
  16. ↑ "The bane of Carlos Carrasco's existence: Joey Butler alone breaks up perfect game and no-hitter". MLB.com. 2 July 2015.
  17. ↑ "Rays Designate Joey Butler". 3 December 2015.
  18. ↑ "Indians Designate Joey Butler for Assignment". 31 July 2016.
  19. ↑ "Joey Butler Stats, Fantasy & News".
  20. ↑ Todd, Jeff (February 10, 2017). "Minor MLB Transactions: 2/10/17". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Rays Tales: Joey Butler's long journey to prove himself".
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