Dan Butler, a former professional baseball catcher, played in parts of two Major League Baseball seasons with the Boston Red Sox in 2014 and 2018. Known for his steady defensive presence and leadership behind the plate, Butler transitioned into a post-playing role as a bullpen catcher with the Arizona Diamondbacks following his retirement.
Born on October 17, 1986, in Phoenix, Arizona, Butler attended Greenway High School before playing college baseball at the University of Arizona. As a senior, he hit .263 with three home runs and 18 RBIs. In the summer of 2009, he competed in the Cape Cod Baseball League with both the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and the Brewster Whitecaps, earning a spot in the league’s All-Star Game.
Despite going undrafted, Butler signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2009 and began his pro career in the minor leagues. In 2010, he had a breakout year, leading Boston’s farm system with a .310 average and a .893 OPS across three levels. That season, he also threw out 35.5% of attempted base stealers and was named a South Atlantic League All-Star. He continued to progress through the Red Sox system, eventually spending most of his time at Triple-A Pawtucket, where he was named team MVP in 2013 after hitting .262 with a career-high 14 home runs.
Butler made his major league debut with the Red Sox on August 10, 2014, catching Rubby De La Rosa and recording his first MLB hit a month later against Baltimore. He appeared in seven games that season, batting .211 with two RBIs, and was honored with the Red Sox’s Lou Gorman Award for perseverance and dedication. After being designated for assignment in early 2015, he was traded to the Washington Nationals and spent that season with Triple-A Syracuse.
He returned to the Red Sox organization on multiple minor league deals from 2016 to 2018, continuing to serve as a steady veteran presence in Pawtucket. In 2018, Butler was called up again and appeared in two games during Boston’s championship season, making him eligible for a World Series ring.
Butler retired in November 2018 and was quickly hired as a bullpen catcher by the Arizona Diamondbacks, continuing his baseball journey in a new role at the major league level.