Richard Dwight Butler (born May 1, 1973) is a Canadian former

outfield The outfield, in cricket, baseball and softball is the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield. In association football, the outfield players are positioned outside the goal area. In cricket, baseball and ...

er in

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for the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

and

Tampa Bay Devil Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home venu ...

. He is the brother of another former Blue Jay,

Rob Butler Robert Butler may refer to: Politicians * Robert Butler (U.S. commander) (1786–1860), U.S. commander receiving the former East Florida for the United States in 1821, from Spain *Cuthbert Butler (politician) (Robert John Cuthbert Butler, 1889� ...

Career

Butler was signed as a non-drafted

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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. In the Major League Baseball

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of 1997, Butler was selected 10th overall by the

. 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 The Durham Bulls are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. They are located in Durham, North Carolina, and play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened in ...

. 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. On October 15, 1999, Butler was granted

free agency In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

. A month later, he was signed by the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...

, although he never made it back to the big leagues. After his MLB career Butler played for the minor league

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...

from 2001 to 2002.

Highlights

1992 - A Ball

Myrtle Beach Hurricanes Myrtle may refer to: Plants *Myrtaceae, the myrtle family **''Myrtus'', the myrtle genus * List of plants known as myrtle, including a list of trees and plants known as myrtle In geography Canada * Myrtle, Ontario, a community United States * ...

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Champions 1993 -

Florida State League The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...

All Star, voted most exciting player of the year by

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1996 - Australian League MVP,

Sydney Blues The Sydney Storm, originally Sydney Blues were a team in the now defunct Australian Baseball League (1989-1999), Australian Baseball League. The franchise featured in every post season throughout its existence and won the Claxton Shield once. ...

1997 - First MLB hit, September 9 1998 - First MLB home run, April 1

Statistics

Batting Fielding _{minor league fielding statistics not available}

References

External links

Pelota Binaria (Venezuelan Winter League)
1973 births Living people Baseball outfielders Baseball players from Toronto Canadian expatriate baseball players in the United States Cardenales de Lara players Canadian expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Dunedin Blue Jays players Durham Bulls players Gulf Coast Blue Jays players Knoxville Smokies players Major League Baseball left fielders Major League Baseball players from Canada Myrtle Beach Hurricanes players New Haven Ravens players Niagara Stars players Oklahoma RedHawks players Syracuse Chiefs players Syracuse SkyChiefs players Tacoma Rainiers players Tampa Bay Devil Rays players Toronto Blue Jays players Canadian expatriate baseball players in Australia
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