Billy Butler, Retired


Date of Birth: 4/18/1986
Birthplace: Orange Park, Florida
Nickname: Country Breakfast

Billy Butler, retired designated hitter, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2004 at the age of 18. He played in the minor leagues from 2004 through 2006 before joining the Royals in 2007 for 92 games. He ended that season with a batting average of .292, with 96 hits and 23 doubles.

In January, 2011, the Royals gave Butler a four-year, $30 million contract. He responded by giving them his best season in 2012, with 192 hits, 29 home runs, and 107 RBIs. Butler won the Silver Slugger award for his 2012 batting achievements. In 2013, he batted .289 with 168 hits, 27 doubles, 15 home runs, and 82 RBIs in a career high 162 games.

Butler finished the 2014 season with 149 hits, 32 doubles, and a .271 batting average in 151 games. In the postseason, he batted .262 with 11 hits, 3 doubles, 1 stolen base, and 8 RBIs in 42 at-bats in 13 games.

Butler signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Oakland Athletics on November 18, 2014. He finished the 2015 season with a .251 batting average, 135 hits, 28 doubles, 15 home runs, and 65 RBIs in 151 games. He was the designated hitter for almost all games, playing defensively at first base in just seven games.

The Athletics released Butler on September 11, 2016. He signed with the New York Yankees four days later. He finished the 2016 season with 71 hits, 18 doubles, 35 RBIs, 42 strikeouts to 21 walks, and a .284 batting average in 85 games with the Athletics and 12 games with the Yankees.

Butler became a free agent on November 3, 2016. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2016.

Butler moved to Idaho in 2017 and he played for a softball team there. He became the hitting coach for a team in the independent Pioneer League in 2021.

Statistics for Butler in ten seasons (2007-2016) in the major leagues include:

  • 3 seasons with a batting average over .300, with a high of .318 in 2010
  • 5 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 192 in 2012
  • 5 seasons with over 30 doubles, with a high of 51 in 2009
  • 2 seasons with over 20 home runs, with a high of 29 in 2012

Career batting statistics for Butler through 2016 include:

  • 1,414 games played
  • 1,479 hits
  • 322 doubles
  • 147 home runs
  • 728 RBIs
  • 840 strikeouts to 500 walks
  • .290 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Butler as a first baseman through 2016 include:

  • 426 games played
  • 268 assists
  • 329 double plays
  • 3,178 putouts
  • 28 errors
  • .992 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Butler and his wife Katie have one daughter.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Billy Butler
ESPN Sports - Billy Butler