Billy Butler Quietly Turning Into One of Baseball's Best Young Hitters

DETROIT -- Pablo Sandoval leads all big-leaguers 23 and younger in hits.

Who's second?

No idea? OK, here's a clue: He bats third for the Kansas City Royals.

Didn't help?

Initials: B.B.

Get it? No?

Well, we don't blame you. First baseman Billy Butler toils in the anonymity of the shaky K.C. lineup. But his name is worth remembering.

"I think he's one of the more impressive young hitters I've seen," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I really like him. He's good."

How good? Butler is tied for second in the AL with 38 doubles. He has a .297 average, 14 homers and 61 RBI.

"He's a baby," Royals hitting coach Kevin Seitzer said. "I see, long-term, he's got a chance to do special things."

Only 15 players have hit .300 with 45 doubles at age 23 or younger, including four active players: Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Cabrera.

"I want to be the batter that the pitchers fear," Butler told FanHouse. "I want to initiate fear. I want to go up there and the pitcher knows that, 'Even if I hit my spot, he's going to hit it hard.'"

A right-handed hitter, Butler has already shown the ability to go the other way and drive the ball hard to the outfield gaps.

The consensus is that Butler (whose defense is still, shall we say, a work in progress) will become a high-average, high-doubles hitter who can hit 20-plus homers as his power improves.

"I think he's a legitimate No. 3 hitter," Kansas City manager Trey Hillman said. "I think there's more power and I think there's more average in there as years come."

Said Seitzer: "Definitely the doubles are going to be there, because he can plug gaps for fun. He doesn't really have any weaknesses or holes in his swing."

On pure ability, Butler last year hit .275 with 22 doubles and 11 homers in 124 games. This year has been a matter of adding an advanced approach at the plate.

"There was a lot ... he needed to learn about how to work pitchers, what pitchers are trying to do to him," said Seitzer, the former .295 career hitter for the Royals, Brewers and Indians. "He's made some big strides. He's a great student."

Said Butler: "It's all about plate discipline, getting to the pitch you want to."

Hillman knew something had clicked for Butler in a late-July homestand, as twice in five days Butler hit a 3-0 pitch out to right field. (According to baseball-reference.com, there have been just 10 opposite-field homers all year at Kauffman Stadium.)

"When you see something like that," Hillman said, "it usually is a pretty good indicator. ... He's getting more mature, taking what they give him -- rather than trying to create things and make it happen."

It was also a by-product of some work with Seitzer. Earlier this season, Seitzer noticed Butler opening his front (left) shoulder too soon, which made it harder for him to drive the ball to right field.

"It's kind of turned my approach around," Butler said. "Balls are carrying further. I'm staying through balls longer. Balls that were like warning-track balls are going out of the park."

Butler was Kansas City's first-round draft pick in 2004 (14th overall, just before Stephen Drew). He won the rookie-level Pioneer League batting title that year, with a .373 mark, and another crown in 2006 at Double-A.

"He's one of those guys that will figure out that it's easier to hit up here," Leyland said. "What I mean by that is, he's starting to know the pitchers, know what they do to him. That's why if you're a good hitter, when you come up here, eventually it'll be easier for you because a lot of time you see the same pitchers year after year.

"Minor leagues, you don't see that. You're getting on the bus, riding eight hours, seeing a different pitcher -- you may never see that pitcher again the rest of the year."