Billy Butler (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Billy Ray Butler 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.
, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Designated Hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
for the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. He has also played first base, left field
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
and right field
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
. 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
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
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
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, 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
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
to go pro.
Minor League Career
He played his rookie season at the age of 18 in 2004 with the Royals Pioneer Baseball League affiliate Idaho Falls ChukarsIdaho Falls Chukars
The Idaho Falls Chukars are a minor league baseball affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They play in Idaho Falls, Idaho, at Melaleuca Field which holds 3,400 fans. The dimensions of the ball park are 340'left, 400'center, 350'right. The playing surface is Natural Grass...
, in Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374....
, where he batted .373 with 10 home runs and 68 RBIs in 73 games.
In 2006 Butler led the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
with a .331 batting average. Despite taking time out to play for Team USA
Team USA
Team USA is a wrestling faction brought together as part of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's X-Cup Tournaments, which involved a team of X Division superstars from various countries representing their nation in an international wrestling competition.-America's X-Cup:Team USA was created and led...
Butler amassed 96 RBIs while playing right field for the Double-A Wichita Wranglers
Wichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
. 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
squad in the 2006 All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
, where he hit the go ahead home run and was selected game MVP.
Major League Career
Butler made his major league debut on May 1, 2007, singlingSingle (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
in his first at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, but was sent to the minors after playing 10 games. He was recalled on June 19 after the Royals put slugger Mike Sweeney
Mike Sweeney
Michael John "Mike" Sweeney is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. Sweeney played his first 13 seasons in the majors with the Kansas City Royals, originally as a catcher and then moving to first base. Sweeney has also played for the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Philadelphia...
on the Disabled List.
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
Hal McRae
Harold Abraham McRae is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals . Utilized as a designated hitter for most of his career, McRae batted and threw right-handed...
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.
In 2011 season, the promotion of first baseman Kila Ka'aihue
Kila Ka'aihue
Micah Kilakila Kaaihue is a minor league baseball player, currently in the Oakland Athletics organization.-Career:Kaaihue went to Iolani High School in Honolulu, Hawaii...
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
Eric Hosmer
Eric John Hosmer is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
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
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
-short of a cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
in a loss to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Butler followed that performance with four home runs in the next three games.
Personal
He is married to Katie Hansen Butler and has one child, a daughter, Kenley, who was born December 10th 2008.Awards
- 2004 Kansas City Royals Minor League Player of the Year
- 2004 Pioneer League All-Star 3B
- 2004 Science Fair Winner for Creating the Internet
- 2004 Rookie League All-Star 3B
- 2005 California LeagueCalifornia LeagueThe California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
Rookie of the Year - 2005 High A All-Star DH
- 2005 Baseball AmericaBaseball AmericaBaseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
1st team Minor League All-Star DH - 2005 Kansas City Royals Minor League Player of the Year
- 2005 California League All-Star DH
- 2005 California/Carolina League All-Star Game MVP
- 2006 Futures GameAll-Star Futures GameThe All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
MVP - 2009 American League Player of the Week (August 2 - August 8)
- 2009 American League Player of the Week (September 7 - September 13)
- 2009 American League Player of the Month (September)
- 2009 Royals Player of the Year
- 2011 American League Player of the Week (July 25- July 31)
External links
- Official website: BillyButler.com