Chris Butler played what he always wanted, pro baseball
New Mets minor leaguer Chris Butler explained his reaction to his first few days in the minors to his hometown Atlanta Constitution in June 1988.
"It's what I've always wanted to do," Butler told The Constitution then. "My dream came true."
Butler started out then with the Mets' rookie Gulf Coast League team. He went on to see four seasons in all. He topped out at single-A.
Butler's career began that year in 1988, taken by the Mets in the 22nd round of the draft out of Powder Springs, Georgia's McEachern High School.
Butler started with the Mets in the GCL. He saw 13 outings, 11 starts and went 1-4, with a 4.76 ERA.
He moved to rookie Kingsport and short-season Pittsfield for 1989. He saw 16 outings, 13 starts overall and had a 2.60 ERA.
That July, Butler picked up a win with a five-hitter and on a strict 100-pitch pitch count, The Kingsport Times-News wrote.
"I told him he had 100 pitches and he could use them any way he wanted," Kingsport pitching coach Randy Niemann told The Times-News of Butler.
Butler moved to single-A Columbia for 1990. He saw 15 outings, 11 starts. He went 7-2, with a 2.70 ERA.
One of his wins came in relief in a May contest, as he got six of nine hitters he faced out on ground balls, The Columbia State wrote.
"We've got a great infield," Butler told The State afterward. "If you keep the ball down and get ground balls, you'll be OK."
Butler returned to Columbia for 1991, but saw just five outings, three starts to end his career.
Butler soon returned to Georgia and coached travel baseball, starting in 2015.
- Atlanta Constitution, June 30, 1988: 'Dream Came True,' Mets Minor Leaguer Says
- Kingsport Times-News, July 17, 1989: Butler closes door on Phillies, 7-1
- Columbia State, May 23, 1990: Butler, Richmond keep Mets winning
Made the Majors:1,474-31.8%
Never Made Majors:3,168-68.2%-X