The Kansas City Royals have agreed to terms with first baseman Billy Butler on a four-year contract through the 2014 season with a club option for 2015.
The 24 year old Butler hit a career-high .318 last year with 45 doubles, 15 home runs and 78 RBI, ranking in the top 10 in the American League in batting (sixth), hits (tied for third, 189), doubles (tied for fourth), multi-hit games (fourth, 54) and on-base percentage (seventh, .388). Butler’s 96 doubles are the most in the Major Leagues since the beginning of the 2009 season.
Selected by the Royals in the first round (14th overall) in the 2004 Draft, Butler is a career .299 hitter with 141 doubles, 55 home runs and 278 RBI in 533 Major League games since making his debut in 2007.
