Billy Butler was a first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals out of high school in 2004. Butler had been named Florida Times Union Player of the year following his senior season at Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, Fla. http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=456714 Butler's Wolfson teammate, pitcher Eric Hurley, was also drafted in the first round in 2004, by the Texas Rangers, making them just the fifth pair of high school teammates taken in the first round in baseball history. http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=456714

Butler spent most of his first three years in the Royals' farm system, playing a variety of positions including outfield, third base and designated hitter. He made his major league debut in 2007, and was on the opening day roster in 2008. http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=456714In 2009, he became the Royals every day first baseman and led the team in a number of offensive categories.

Butler remains the Royals' starting first baseman, batting third and providing power and consistency to the lineup. He had a strong spring training, and said he wanted to avoid starting slowly like he did in 2009. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100325&content_id=8933730&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc

In March, Butler signed a one-year contract for the 2010 season for $470,000. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100304&content_id=8671686&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc

As the Royals’ starting first baseman, Butler carried a great deal of the team’s offensive load in 2009. Batting third, Butler hit .301 with 21 home runs, 51 doubles and 93 runs-batted-in, and scored 78 runs. He led the team in home runs, RBIs, doubles and bases on balls.

Butler was named the Royals’ Les Milgram Player of the Year. His 51 doubles were second all-time in Royals’ history, behind Hal McRae’s 54 in 1977.

Butler, a third-baseman in high school and the minors and a DH for most of his major-league career, had to make the adjustment to first base, but committed just 10 errors on a team that struggled defensively across the infield. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100228&content_id=8629972&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc