Texas Rangers Butler was selected by the
Texas Rangers in the 15th round of the
2008 Major League Baseball draft, as a
right fielder. Despite hitting exceptionally well in college, scouts were concerned with Butler's defensive abilities. He made his professional debut with the Low-A
Spokane Indians, batting .301/.417/.434 with 4 home runs and 31 RBI in 62 games. In 2009, Butler played for the High-A
Bakersfield Blaze, hitting .280/.343/.416 with 12 home runs and 76 RBI. The following season, he played for the Double-A
Frisco RoughRiders, posting a .277/.340/.409 slash with 10 home runs and 58 RBI in 132 games. For the 2011 season, Butler split the year between Frisco and the Triple-A
Round Rock Express, hitting a cumulative .313/.388/.483 with a career-high 14 home runs and 61 RBI. Butler returned to Round Rock for the 2012 season, slashing .290/.392/.473 with new career-highs in home runs (20) and RBI (78). He began the 2013 season with Round Rock. On August 5, 2013, The Rangers selected Butler to the 40-man roster and called him up to the majors for the first time. He made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter for
Leonys Martín, but lined out against
Los Angeles Angels pitcher
Nick Maronde in his only at-bat. Butler was optioned back to the Triple-A
Round Rock Express on August 10 to make room for
Alex Ríos, but was recalled on September 3 when major league rosters expanded. Butler went 4-for-12 in 8 games for Texas before he was
designated for assignment on September 30.
St. Louis Cardinals On October 3, 2013, Butler was claimed off waivers by the
St. Louis Cardinals. On March 27, 2014, Butler was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and assigned to the Triple-A
Memphis Redbirds. On May 9, Butler was selected to the active roster. He made his
Cardinals debut on May 10, 2014, after getting called up on May 9. He struck out, pinch-hitting in the seventh inning at
Pittsburgh. He was optioned to Memphis on May 21 after going 0-for-5 in 6 games and was granted his outright release by St. Louis two days later to pursue an opportunity in Japan.
Orix Buffaloes in After he was given his release by the Cardinals, Butler had his contract purchased by the
Orix Buffaloes of the
Nippon Professional Baseball League of
Japan on May 23, 2014. He made his NPB debut on July 1, 2014. In 21 games as a
right fielder for the Buffaloes, Butler hit .231 with two home runs and six RBIs. He became a free agent after the season.
Tampa Bay Rays On January 10, 2015, Butler signed a minor league deal with the
Tampa Bay Rays organization. He was assigned to the Triple-A
Durham Bulls to begin the year before being selected to the major leagues on May 3. He hit his first MLB home run on May 4, a two-run homer off of
Boston Red Sox starter
Clay Buchholz. On July 1, he broke up
Carlos Carrasco’s 8 2/3 innings and two-strike long no-hitter with a single. In 88 games for Tampa Bay, Butler slashed .276/.326/.416 with 8 home runs and 30 RBI. On December 3, 2015, Butler was designated for assignment following the team's acquisition of
Hank Conger.
Cleveland Indians On December 7, 2015, Butler was claimed off waivers by the
Cleveland Indians. After failing to make the 25-man roster out of spring training, Butler was optioned to the Triple-A
Columbus Clippers. Butler was designated for assignment on July 31, 2016, to make room on the 40-man roster for
Andrew Miller, and was outrighted to Triple-A on August 5. He finished the year with Columbus, hitting .240/.318/.344 with 8 home runs and 42 RBI in 118 games. Butler elected free agency on October 3, 2016.
Washington Nationals On February 10, 2017, Butler signed a minor league contract with the
Washington Nationals organization. Butler spent the year with the Triple-A
Syracuse Chiefs, but appeared in just 28 games due to injury and hit only .215/.311/.329 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 6. ==Personal life==