Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon wasted no time in putting Team Italy catcher Drew Butera behind home plate after the 37-year-old veteran was traded from the Texas Rangers in exchange for a cash considerations on May 7, 2021. Drew Butera is expected to catch pitcher Griffin Canning (2-2 with a 6.20 ERA) and hit ninth in the batting lineup tonight against undefeated LA Dodgers ace Julio Urias (4-0 with a 2.87 ERA) at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.
Drew Butera and Kurt Suzuki will share catching duties while regular starter Max Stassi follows 7-day concussion protocol. The Italian American catcher enters his second stint with the LA Angels organization after appearing in 10 games for the Halos in 2015 and before being traded to the Kansas City Royals on May 7, 2015. He would later catch the final out of the Royals' 2015 World Series championship.
Prior to playing for the LA Angels, Drew Butera was with the LA Dodgers and caught pitcher Josh Beckett's no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 25, 2014. Three years earlier while on the Minnesota Twins, he also caught Francisco Liriano’s no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on May 3, 2011.
In 541 MLB games, Drew Butera possesses a lifetime .198 batting average with 58 doubles, 19 home runs and 118 RBI. His career 29.9 caught stealing percentage ranks 10th among active catchers since 2010 with at least 500 games experience. Drew Butera had been on the Texas Rangers’ taxi squad but had not seen any MLB action so far in 2021. The 11-year veteran was last seen on the Major League level with the Colorado Rockies in 2020 when he made 43 plate appearances. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
