(Editor’s Note: Brendan is a graduate of Dowling College. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 30th round of the 2015 draft)
by Brendan Butler
Showing up to Arizona in March for spring training was one of the most surreal feelings in my baseball career.
I was finally starting my first full professional season, which I knew was going to be a grind, but I knew I could handle it because I have the best job. On the first day of spring training I was told I was going to remain in the bullpen, which is what I did during my first summer in rookie ball and in instructs. Spring was a great learning experience for me, as I was around guys from higher divisions than myself. I got to watch their sequences to hitters and I took notice of their techniques. Spring training was a lot of fun for me because I was able to have my parents, sister and girlfriend all come down to spend time with me and they were able to watch me pitch during my first spring season.
After spring ended, I was told I was being left back in extended to become a starter, which is what I did my whole baseball career. I was throwing really well and my innings were starting to climb as well as my pitch count. Around late April, I got an awesome opportunity to fill in for an injured pitcher in Stockton, California for our High-A team.
This was my first jump to an affiliate besides our rookie team and in my first outing in Modesto, I came out of the pen, throwing three innings and I allowed one run and punched out four.
I was very thankful my parents were able to make last minute arrangements to come watch me debut my 2016 season. Even though I stayed a week and a half, I was able to soak in a lot and see how the guys did it at the higher levels. Up there, you don’t get away with your misses like you do in the lower levels. I was able to take that knowledge back to extended with me and use it in my outings all May and June before I headed to Vermont.
I got off to a great start in Vermont and I was throwing some of the best games of my young career. As much as I was trying to get promoted to our A-ball team in Wisconsin, I enjoyed being close to home and throwing in NY, CT and MA. For my first 38 innings in Vermont, I posted a 1.95 ERA and earned a promotion to the Beloit Snappers in the Midwest League.
Beloit, Wisconsin, where our A-ball team was located is where I spent the majority of my 2016 season. In about 53 innings, I found similar success as I did in Vermont. As a team we fell off a bit towards the end of the summer and didn’t have the chance to make the playoffs. We had a great group of guys, and it was very cool to experience the Midwest, somewhere I’ve never spent any part of my life in.
Right now, I’m finishing up my last two weeks in Arizona for instructs where I’m working hard to extend my innings for next season. I’m very happy to be headed home to get some much needed time with my family, but without their support, it would be very hard to get through some of the situations that occur during a 142 game season. I am truly blessed to have people supporting me like family and friends, who made it to some of my games all over the country. I’m excited to work hard this offseason and be ready for my 2017 season in the Oakland Athletics organization.
2016 stats: 92 innings, 81 hits 26 BB’s 82 K’s 2.84 era and .236 baa
