Mike Butia
| AB | 915 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .238 |
| OBP | .319 |
| SLG | .361 |
| HR | 20 |
- Full name Michael William Butia
- Born 11/29/1982 in Pittsburgh, PA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School James Madison
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Drafted in the 5th round (137th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2004 (signed for $210,000).
View Draft Report
Butia struggled last summer in the Cape Cod League, batting .230-2-12, but surged this spring at James Madison, hitting .373-18-60 with an .807 slugging percentage and .459 on-base. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound lefthanded hitter has added 20 pounds of muscle to his athletic frame since last year, and now shows above-average raw power. Butia is aggressive at the plate, with good bat speed, a smooth stroke and good leverage. He is an average runner and shows decent defensive skills in the outfield with average arm strength. He takes medication for a thyroid condition, which some scouts say has caused his weight to fluctuate.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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With crosscheckers blanketing the talent-laden Colonial Athletic Association to scout the likes of Justin Verlander, Bill Bray and Justin Orenduff--all of whom became first-round picks in 2004--Butia received plenty of exposure last spring. He set a James Madison record with 18 homers and finished third in NCAA Division I with a .782 slugging percentage, but hurt his cause with a miserable series against William & Mary in front of dozens of high-ranking scouting officials. Cleveland scouting director John Mirabelli watched him scuffle, but saw correctable flaws and trusted veteran area scout Bobby Mayer, who liked Butia. He showed above-average pull power as an amateur, but didn't load his hands well at the plate and was exposed by better pitching. The Indians saw immediate results after revamping his approach to create a better trigger, opening his stance and widening his base. He began to drive pitches to the opposite field more often. Butia has good bat speed and natural loft in his swing, though he'll need to cut down on his strikeouts. A slightly below-average runner, he's limited to left field by his subpar arm strength and defensive ability. He has a mild thyroid condition and put on a lot of weight during his college career. Butia will begin his first full season in low Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Butia is a masher who would fit right in with Cleveland's potent offense. He has quick hands and a good approach, allowing him to produce for power and average from the left side of the plate. "For a big, strong power hitter, his strike-zone recognition is tremendous," an American League scout said. "You rarely see him chase anything out of the zone. He's focused when he gets to the plate, has a very good plan, and he stays with it, and it shows." The Indians project Butia as a corner outfielder, but he's not particularly athletic and is average at best defensively. His arm is below average, though he does have a quick release.
