Brent Butler

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=Brent Butler
position=Second baseman
team=Tampa Bay Rays
number=--
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|2|11
debutdate=July 4
debutyear=2001
debutteam=Colorado Rockies
statyear=2007
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.248
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=11
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=60
teams=
*Colorado Rockies (by|2001-by|2003)

Justin Brent Butler (born February 11, 1978, in Laurinburg, North Carolina) is a Major League Baseball utility infielder in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 3rd round of the 1996 MLB amateur draft, Butler would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Colorado Rockies on July 4, 2001, and appear in his final game on June 19, 2003.

During his first season at the Major League level, Butler would compile a .244 batting average in limited playing time. The Rockies manager at the time, Buddy Bell, used Butler primarily off of the bench as Todd Walker served as the Rockies starting second baseman. It was after Walker's departure from the team at the end of the 2001 season that Butler saw his greatest amount of playing time. During the 2002 season, Butler served as the Rockies starting second baseman. However, after compiling only a .259 batting average with a .287 OBP, the Rockies signed Ronnie Belliard as their starting second baseman for the 2003 season, relegating Butler to a reserve role again.

Once the 2003 season concluded, the Rockies would release Butler. Although Butler would compete at the Minor League level for the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and Tampa Bay Rays, as of the end of the 2007 professional season Butler has yet to reach the Major League level since his Rockies release.

Teams

* Colorado Rockies: 2001-2003

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/butlebr02.shtml Brent Butler at "Baseball Reference.com"]