{{short description|American baseball player (born 1986)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name = Joey Butler |image = Joeybutler20145.jpg |caption = Butler with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014 |position = Designated hitter / Left fielder |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|3|12}} |birth_place = Pascagoula, Mississippi, U.S. |bats = Right |throws = Right |debutleague = MLB |debutdate = August 7 |debutyear = 2013 |debutteam = Texas Rangers |debut2league = NPB |debut2date = July 1 |debut2year = 2014 |debut2team = Orix Buffaloes |finalleague = MLB |finaldate = October 4 |finalyear = 2015 |finalteam = Tampa Bay Rays |final2league = NPB |final2date = August 13 |final2year = 2014 |final2team = Orix Buffaloes |statleague = MLB |stat1label = Batting average |stat1value = .274 |stat2label = Hits |stat2value = 75 |stat3label = Home runs |stat3value = 8 |stat4label = Runs batted in |stat4value = 31 |stat2league = NPB |stat21label = Batting average |stat21value = .231 |stat22label = Hits |stat22value = 12 |stat23label = Home runs |stat23value = 2 |stat24label = Runs batted in |stat24value = 6 |teams = * Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2013}}) * St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|2014}}) * Orix Buffaloes ({{baseball year|2014}}) * Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2015}}) }}

'''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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Consecutive games with Home Runs >= 2 |url=https://stathead.com/baseball/streak_finder.cgi?request=1&class=player&type=b&playerapp=any&scomp%5B1%5D=gt&sval%5B1%5D=2&sstat%5B1%5D=HR&exactness=anymarked&lastgames=1&location=pob&locationMatch=is |website=Stathead.com}}</ref>

==Background== Born and raised in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Butler attended Pascagoula High School. For the Pascagoula Panthers, Butler played baseball, football, and basketball.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/rays-tales-joey-butlers-long-journey-to-prove-himself/2235337/|title = Rays Tales: Joey Butler's long journey to prove himself}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.nola.com/uno/index.ssf/2013/08/former_uno_star_joey_butler_ge.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130817174328/http://www.nola.com/uno/index.ssf/2013/08/former_uno_star_joey_butler_ge.html| archive-date = 2013-08-17| title = Former UNO star Joey Butler gets the call to the Majors {{!}} NOLA.com}}</ref> In his two seasons at New Orleans, Butler had a batting line of .342/.403/.541 in 119 games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/6/18/8799753/who-is-rays-rookie-joey-butler|title = Who is Rays rookie Joey Butler|date = 18 June 2015}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/texas-rangers/post/_/id/4905950/cardinals-claim-butler-from-rangers|title=Cardinals claim Butler from Rangers|date=October 3, 2013|access-date=October 3, 2013|first=Todd|last=Wills|publisher=ESPNDallas.com}}</ref> Despite hitting exceptionally well in college, scouts were concerned with Butler's defensive abilities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/6/18/8799753/who-is-rays-rookie-joey-butler|title = Who is Rays rookie Joey Butler|date = 18 June 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=butler001joe|title = Joey Butler Minor, Fall, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History}}</ref>

On August 5, 2013, The Rangers selected Butler to the 40-man roster and called him up to the majors for the first time.<ref>[http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/08/texas-rangers-add-joey-butler-designate-adam-rosales-for-assignment.html/ Texas Rangers add Joey Butler, designate Adam Rosales for assignment]</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/09/texas-rangers-to-hit-nelson-cruz-sixth-as-dh-joey-butler-designated-for-assignment.html/ |title=Texas Rangers to hit Nelson Cruz sixth as DH; Joey Butler designated for assignment |date=September 30, 2013 |accessdate=September 30, 2013 |first=Evan |last=Grant |work=Dallas Morning News |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930204743/http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/09/texas-rangers-to-hit-nelson-cruz-sixth-as-dh-joey-butler-designated-for-assignment.html/ |archivedate=September 30, 2013 }}</ref>

===St. Louis Cardinals=== On October 3, 2013, Butler was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/texas-rangers/post/_/id/4905950/cardinals-claim-butler-from-rangers|title=Cardinals claim Butler from Rangers|date=October 3, 2013|access-date=October 3, 2013|first=Todd|last=Wills|publisher=ESPNDallas.com}}</ref> On March 27, 2014, Butler was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and assigned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/joey-butler-542994|title=Joey Butler Stats, Fantasy & News|website=MLB.com}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/05/orix-buffaloes-purchase-joey-butlers-contract-from-cardinals.html|title = Orix Buffaloes Purchase Joey Butler's Contract from Cardinals| date=23 May 2014 }}</ref>

===Orix Buffaloes=== [[File:IMG 8244 Joey Butler.jpg|250px|thumb|Butler batting for the Orix Buffaloes in {{Npby|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140523&content_id=76510836&notebook_id=76510964&vkey=notebook_stl&c_id=stl |title=Off Cards' 40-man roster, Butler heads to Japan |work=MLB.com |date=May 23, 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/japan/player.cgi?id=butler001joe|title = Joey Butler Minor, Fall, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-dec-24-jan-8/|title=Minor League Transactions: Dec. 24-Jan. 8|work=Baseball America|first=Matt|last=Eddy|date=January 11, 2015}}</ref> On July 1, he broke up Carlos Carrasco’s 8 2/3 innings and two-strike long no-hitter with a single.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/joey-butler-walks-singles-to-end-perfect-game-and-no-no/c-134154442|title = The bane of Carlos Carrasco's existence: Joey Butler alone breaks up perfect game and no-hitter|website = MLB.com| date=2 July 2015 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/12/rays-designate-joey-butler.html|title = Rays Designate Joey Butler| date=3 December 2015 }}</ref>

===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,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/07/indians-designate-joey-butler-for-assignment.html|title = Indians Designate Joey Butler for Assignment| date=31 July 2016 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/joey-butler-542994|title = Joey Butler Stats, Fantasy & News}}</ref>

===Washington Nationals=== On February 10, 2017, Butler signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/02/minor-mlb-transactions-21017.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 2/10/17|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=February 10, 2017|accessdate=February 11, 2017}}</ref> 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 following the season on November 6.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2017|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2017/?amphtml|access-date=March 3, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 7, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life== Butler is married and has two children, a daughter and a son.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/rays-tales-joey-butlers-long-journey-to-prove-himself/2235337/|title = Rays Tales: Joey Butler's long journey to prove himself}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{baseballstats|mlb=542994|espn=30640|br=b/butlejo04|fangraphs=7799|brm=butler001joe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Joey}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Pascagoula, Mississippi Category:Baseball players from Mississippi Category:African-American baseball players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Japan Category:Major League Baseball designated hitters Category:Major League Baseball left fielders Category:Texas Rangers players Category:St. Louis Cardinals players Category:Orix Buffaloes players Category:Tampa Bay Rays players Category:Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs baseball players Category:New Orleans Privateers baseball players Category:Spokane Indians players Category:Bakersfield Blaze players Category:Frisco RoughRiders players Category:Round Rock Express players Category:Memphis Redbirds players Category:Navegantes del Magallanes players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Category:Durham Bulls players Category:Surprise Saguaros players Category:Venados de Mazatlán players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Category:Columbus Clippers players Category:Syracuse Chiefs players Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen