Jose Butto: Mets Pitcher (2022 - 2024)

Jose Alejandro Butto was born March 19th, 1988, in Cumana Venezuela. In 2017 the six-foot one right hander was signed by the New York Mets as an international free agent at 18 years old.

He began his career pitching at the A-ball level from 2018-2019. Butto did not pitch in the 2020 Covid-19 season. 

In 2021 he reported to A-ball Brooklyn averaging 9.3 strike outs per nine innings getting promoted to AA Binghamton where he won a mid-August Northeast Pitcher of the Week Award.

In 2022 Butto was ranked as the Mets #15 prospect as he began the year at AA Binghamton going 6-5 with a 4.00 ERA. He was placed on the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule v draft & ended up getting called up to the Mets in late August.

Mets Career: On August 21st, Butto made his MLB debut, helping a depleted pitching staff with a start in Philadelphia. He had a rough outing allowing seven runs including HRs to Alec Bohm & Jean Segura in a 10-9 Mets loss. He was sent back to AAA Syracuse where he was 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA.

2023: After Spring Training, Butto was optioned to AAA Syracuse but was called back up less than three weeks later. On April 16th, Butto made the start in Oakland, allowing one run over five innings while scattering five hits, earning no decision in the Mets 4-3 extra inning win.

On April 25th, the Mets were shut out by the Nationals Josiah Gray & Mason Thompson, with Butto on the losing end. He gave up two runs & allowed six walks with a HR to Keibert Ruiz. He made one more appearance in relief before being sent back to AAA Syracuse. 

At Syracuse he went 3-7 with a 5.93 ERA in 19 games for the year. Butto returned to the Mets in mid- August after the big sell off as pitchers Max Scherzer & Justin Verlander were gone. In his return he took a loss to the Pirates.

First Career Victory: On September 12th, Butto collected his first career victory, as he beat the eventual NL Champion Diamondbacks allowing one run in five innings while striking out a career high seven batters. In six of those seven K's he used his most effective pitch, a nasty change up.

Quotes- Jose Butto: "It's an incredible & really emotional win. My wife & son are here for the first time & I'm really blessed."

He made three more starts but took losses in his last two games of the season.

In nine appearances (seven starts) Butto was 1-4 with a 3.64 ERA. He struck out 38 & walked 23 in 42.0 innings of work, allowing five HRs. 

Family: Jose married the former Emely (Rojas) in July 2022. They have one son.