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Butler eager to show what he can do in the field
BY SAM MELLINGERThe Kansas City Star
SURPRISE, Ariz. | The ball shoots straight up into the Arizona sky, an infield pop-up, and Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar points his index finger to the clouds. Billy Butler comes in, sunglasses down, tracking as best he can.
Somewhere, skeptical Royals fans gasp.
Butler fights the sun, goes down to one knee, and makes the catch. He throws it around the horn like no big deal. It’s a small step, just a pop-up, but these are moments by which Butler will be judged.
“And I know that,” he says. “The questions are going to stop soon because they’re going to know if I can or can’t play (first base).”
On the list of spring-training priorities, figuring out Butler’s place in the field ranks toward the top. The kid can hit, nobody questions that. He’ll be in the middle of the lineup, expected to be a major run producer even as he begins his first full big-league season.
The bat has never been the issue with Butler. It’s been the glove. Drafted as a third baseman out of high school in 2004, Butler quickly moved to the outfield, first in right, then left. He won two batting titles in three full minor-league seasons, so the reasons to be patient on his defense were outweighed by the impact his bat could have for a big-league club starved for runs.
He made his big-league debut on May 1 as a left fielder and after making an error with a couple misplays in six games at left field, moved to first base. Time was sparse there, so Butler ended up as the designated hitter in 69 of the 92 games he played.
The Royals become better if Butler can at least be adequate at first base. Gives the lineup more flexibility, gives manager Trey Hillman the option of resting, say, Jose Guillen at DH without sacrificing offense.
“I think I’ll put up better offensive numbers playing at first,” Butler says. “It keeps me in the game more, keeps me loose, keeps me not getting tight. I won’t have to worry about getting locked in again every time I go up to the plate. I’ll already be locked in.”
Butler is only 21, too early in the eyes of many to be a full-time DH. That’s why the Royals want him to prove he can play in the field, too.
“Specifically,” Hillman says, “I’m watching Billy with his lateral movement and his ability to cover that 4-3 hole and down the line. The other guys are used to it more than Billy Butler is. We’ll see how far he can go. I’m hoping he gets challenged in that 4-3 hole, especially.”
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Whatever these challenges are, Butler is confident he can whip ’em. Heck, challenges? Out here? In the desert, on big-league-quality fields?
Shoot, challenges are playing first base in Dominican winter ball, hostile crowds, fields filled with holes and rocks. That’s what Butler did for 20 games in the winter league without incident.
“We’ve got a lot of Dominican guys on our team, so I don’t want to really bash on it,” he says. “But if you can play (defense) down there, you can be an All-Star here if you can be a good defender down there.”
Butler’s time in the Dominican was cut short by a tropical storm that wiped out the better part of a week’s games, and then his wedding in November.
But he thinks his time there made him better, that “I’m completely ready to go now,” and that playing winter ball was the best thing he could’ve done for his defensive skills.
He reported about a month early to Royals camp in Surprise to work with coaches on his defense. J.D. Butler, Billy’s father, has always thought first base was his son’s most natural position.
“He’s certainly completely aware that God didn’t give him all the tools,” J.D. says. “He’s got to work a little harder at some of them. (Defense) is the part that didn’t come as natural.”
Early indications are that the work is paying off. George Brett has remarked about the improvement, as well as several players and coaches.
“He’s never going to win a Gold Glove,” says one scout. “But 21 is too young to be a full-time DH. He just needs to be passable there. And you can see him working, which is the most encouraging thing. If hard work counts for anything, he’ll be fine.”
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After that pop-up caught on one knee, the next batter hits a grounder toward Butler, and that’s two putouts in a row. He jogs back to the dugout at the end of the inning, and Hillman teases him about the pop-up.
“I just felt like I needed to get as low as I could on it,” Butler says.
“I didn’t know if you were catching it and praying at the same time,” Hillman says.
At this point in spring training, you’re forced to look at the smallest of indicators, so Hillman talks about positive signs like Butler’s prepitch movement, reaction to swings, and calm demeanor in the field.
“You’ve got to make them think,” Butler says. “Make them think you can do it if they give you the opportunity. That’s all I want: the opportunity to know I can play every day, that if I happen to make an error it’s not going to affect my playing time.
“I just need steady reps, and I feel like I know I’m going to get that now.”