Billy

Butler

The 19-year-old Butler was promoted after hitting .348/.419/.636 with 25 HR and 91 RBI in 92 games for Single-A High Desert.

Butler, the MVP of last month’s Futures Game, is batting .324/.380/.488 in 445 at-bats. A September callup is a possibility, though he probably wouldn’t get regular at-bats. If the Royals don’t call him up, it’s because they won’t have to add him to the 40-man roster in the offseason.

Butler, 20, is hitting .317/.381/.502 in 259 at-bats. He’s mostly playing right field now after initially converting to left field last season. Butler was born to DH, but the Royals may try to squeeze a few years out of him as an outfielder before it happens.

Butler was 10-for-32 in nine games. He won’t be seeing any action with the Royals this year as the club is hoping to converse its roster space for the offseason in a seemingly shortsighted move.

Butler tagged Ubaldo Jimenez for a two-run shot in the first before taking Jairo Asencio deep for a solo blast in the ninth. It was his first multi-homer effort since last September 5. Oscillating between the three and four hole in the Royals’ lineup, Butler is now batting .292/.329/.542 to go along with 10 extra-base hits (four home runs) and 13 RBI.

Alex Gordon has assumed the third spot in the order, with Billy Butler sliding down to cleanup. The Royals will hope that the change ignites Hosmer’s bat.

He was the lone Royal to record multiple hits. Butler has been scorching hot at the dish this spring, batting .436 with three homers and an absurd. 1.258 OPS over 39 at-bats. Being eligible only at DH in most leagues hurts, but he’ll still have fantasy value this season.

He took Ervin Santana deep for a two-run shot in the first. Along with Eric Hosmer, Butler helped the Royals take a surprising two out of three from the Angels. Hosmer capped off a huge opening series by going 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base. Batting cleanup, Butler should get plenty of opportunities to drive Hosmer in this season.

Butler finished the game 2-for-4 and is now hitting .296/.341/.530. One of the best pure hitters in the league, he’s shown an improved power stroke in the early going with six homers and 23 RBI on the season. If he can maintain the uptick in power over the course of 2012, he’ll become a serious bargain for fantasy owners who got him late.

The Royals used their likely Opening Day lineup in this one: LF Alex Gordon, 2B Johnny Giavotella, 1B Eric Hosmer, DH Butler, 3B Mike Moustakas, RF Jeff Francoeur, C Salvador Perez, CF Lorenzo Cain and SS Alcides Escobar. That might be a good enough group to get Butler to 100 RBI for the first time in his career.