{{short description|Canadian baseball player (born 1973)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Rich Butler |position=Outfielder |bats=Left |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1973|5|1}}<!--- do NOT change this date without adding a reference citing this change ---> |birth_place=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=September 6 |debutyear=1997 |debutteam=Toronto Blue Jays |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=August 4 |finalyear=1999 |finalteam=Tampa Bay Devil Rays |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Batting average |stat1value=.223 |stat2label=Home runs |stat2value=7 |stat3label=Runs batted in |stat3value=22 |teams= *Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|1997}}) *Tampa Bay Devil Rays ({{mlby|1998}}–{{mlby|1999}}) }} '''Richard Dwight Butler''' (born May 1, 1973)<!--- do NOT change this date without adding a reference citing this change ---> is a Canadian former outfielder in Major League Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.<ref>[http://www.thetelegram.com/Sports/2012-08-29/article-3063102/Butler-did-it/1 "Butler did it"] ''The Telegram''. Retrieved 2016-07-03.</ref> He is the brother of another former Blue Jay, Rob Butler.
== Career == Butler was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Toronto Blue Jays on September 24, 1990. After seven years in Minor League Baseball, he was called up to play for the major league club on September 6, 1997. He played seven games that season with the Blue Jays.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=butleri01|title=Rich Butler Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac|website=www.baseball-almanac.com|access-date=2016-04-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pelotabinaria.com.ve/beisbol/mostrar.php?ID=butlric001|title=Richard Dwight Butler|website=www.purapelota.com|access-date=2016-04-25}}</ref>
In the Major League Baseball expansion draft of 1997, Butler was selected 10th overall by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.<ref name=":0" /> In Tampa Bay's inaugural season of 1998, Butler played in 72 games at the major league level and 38 games with the Triple-A Durham Bulls.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=111820#/career/R/hitting/2000/ALL|title=Rich Butler Stats, Highlights, Bio {{!}} MiLB.com Stats {{!}} The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|website=MiLB.com|access-date=2016-04-25}}</ref>
Butler remained at AAA Durham in 1999, where he played 90 games. He was called up to the Devil Rays again, but this time only for seven games.<ref name=":1" />
On October 15, 1999, Butler was granted free agency. A month later, he was signed by the Seattle Mariners, although he never made it back to the big leagues.<ref name=":0" />
After his MLB career Butler played for the minor league Toronto Maple Leafs from 2001 to 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pointstreaksites.com/view/theibl/alumni-132|title=ALUMNI {{!}} Intercounty Baseball League|website=www.pointstreaksites.com|access-date=2016-04-25}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Baseball}} {{baseballstats|br=b/butleri01| brm=butler002ric| retro=B/Pbutlr002}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Rich}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Baseball outfielders Category:Baseball players from Toronto Category:Canadian expatriate baseball players in the United States Category:Cardenales de Lara players Category:Canadian expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Category:Dunedin Blue Jays players Category:Durham Bulls players Category:Gulf Coast Blue Jays players Category:Knoxville Smokies players Category:Major League Baseball left fielders Category:Major League Baseball players from Canada Category:Myrtle Beach Hurricanes players Category:New Haven Ravens players Category:Niagara Stars players Category:Oklahoma RedHawks players Category:Syracuse Chiefs players Category:Syracuse SkyChiefs players Category:Tacoma Rainiers players Category:Tampa Bay Devil Rays players Category:Toronto Blue Jays players Category:Canadian expatriate baseball players in Australia Category:2003 Baseball World Cup players
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