Brent Butler

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**Brent Butler**

Tampa Bay Rays — No. --
Second baseman
Born: February 11, 1978 (1978-02-11) (age 30)
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
July 4, 2001 for the Colorado Rockies
Selected MLB statistics (through 2007)
Batting average	.248
Home runs	11
Runs batted in	60
Teams
Colorado Rockies (2001-2003)

Justin Brent Butler (born February 11, 1978, in Laurinburg, North Carolina) is a Major League Baseball utility infielder in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 3rd round of the 1996 MLB amateur draft, Butler would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Colorado Rockies on July 4, 2001, and appear in his final game on June 19, 2003.

During his first season at the Major League level, Butler would compile a .244 batting average in limited playing time. The Rockies manager at the time, Buddy Bell, used Butler primarily off of the bench as Todd Walker served as the Rockies starting second baseman. It was after Walker's departure from the team at the end of the 2001 season that Butler saw his greatest amount of playing time. During the 2002 season, Butler served as the Rockies starting second baseman. However, after compiling only a .259 batting average with a .287 OBP, the Rockies signed Ronnie Belliard as their starting second baseman for the 2003 season, relegating Butler to a reserve role again.

Once the 2003 season concluded, the Rockies would release Butler. Although Butler would compete at the Minor League level for the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and Tampa Bay Rays, as of the end of the 2007 professional season Butler has yet to reach the Major League level since his Rockies release.