Timothy Edward Butler (born March 13, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Butler attended Greenbrier Christian Academy in Chesapeake, Virginia. After playing for the school's baseball team, The Virginian-Pilot named him to their All-Tidewater team in 2009, his senior year. The Texas Rangers selected him in the 35th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign and attended Radford University, where he played college baseball for the Radford Highlanders. In his junior year, Butler pitched to a 7-4 win-loss record and a 2.20 earned run average (ERA). He won the Big South Conference Pitcher of the Year Award.
The Colorado Rockies selected Butler in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Rockies, receiving a $1 million signing bonus. Butler made his professional debut with the Grand Junction Rockies of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, and was named an All-Star after going 7–1 with a 2.13 ERA and 55 strikeouts. Butler began the 2013 season with the Asheville Tourists of the Class A South Atlantic League, but after making nine starts for Asheville, he was promoted to the Modesto Nuts of the Class A-Advanced California League. He was named to appear in the 2013 All-Star Futures Game, where he pitched an inning without allowing a run. Butler made six starts for the Tulsa Drillers of the Class AA Texas League to conclude the season.
The Rockies invited Butler to spring training in 2014. They assigned him to Tulsa to start the 2014 season, and he started Tulsa's season opener. After he pitched to a 2.49 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 19 walks in 68 2⁄3 innings pitched, the Rockies promoted Butler to the major leagues for his debut on June 6. He recorded a loss in his first start, pitching 5 1⁄3innings and giving up 6 runs on 10 hits. He was placed on the disabled-list before his next scheduled start with right shoulder inflammation, and he was replaced by Tyler Matzek, who would be the third starting pitcher to debut for the Rockies in six days, along with Butler and Christian Bergman.
Butler won the fifth starter's spot out of Spring Training in 2015. Butler struggled mightily at the beginning, inducing 30 walks while striking out just 29 in 54.1 innings. He was demoted at the end of May to AAA. Butler was once again called up, he finished the season with a 3-10 record along with an ERA of 5.90 in 79.1 innings. He also had his first complete game of his career.
↑ "Rockies add college righty Butler at No. 46". Mlb.mlb.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
1 2 Callis, Jim (May 24, 2013). "Pipeline Perspectives: Jon Gray and Eddie Butler give Rockies top duo of pitching prospects | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
↑ Smith, Daren (August 25, 2012). "Selman, Dahl top Pioneer All-Stars". Milb.com. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
↑ "Mustangs put 2 on Pioneer League all-star team". Billingsgazette.com. August 25, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
↑ Lee, David (May 25, 2013). "Rockies prospect Eddie Butler gets quick promotion | The Augusta Chronicle". Chronicle.augusta.com. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
↑ "Rockies prospect Eddie Butler's rapid rise leads to Futures Game | Rockies.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. June 26, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
↑ "Rockies prospect Eddie Butler pitched a scoreless inning at the Futures Game | Rockies.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. July 14, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
↑ "Prospects Eddie Butler, Jon Gray among Colorado Rockies' invitees | Rockies.com: News". Colorado.rockies.mlb.com. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
↑ "Barry Lewis: Top prospects Jon Gray, Eddie Butler to start season with Drillers – Tulsa World: Tulsa World Sports Extra". Tulsa World. March 30, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
↑ "Top prospect Eddie Butler, Drillers set for season opener – Tulsa World: Tulsa World Sports Extra". Tulsa World. April 3, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
↑ Seiner, Jake. "Rockies call up Butler to make start Friday | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Milb.com. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
↑ "Gordon's 2 triples lead Dodgers past Rockies 7-2". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
↑ Ringolsby, Tracy (June 12, 2014). "Matzek savors victory after tough road to bigs". MLB.com. Retrieved September 10, 2016.