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. 

2024 Mets Wild Card Season: After Spring Training Butto was optioned to AAA Syracuse losing his roster spot to Tylor Megill. But on April 4th, he was quickly brought back up due to injuries on the staff.

On April 4th he got the start in the second game of a double header with the Tigers at Citi Field. Butto went six innings, allowing a run on three hits, striking out six. He earned no decision in the 2-1 win with Tyrone Taylor hitting a walk off single.

Butto made another start shutting out the Royals for six innings, while striking out nine batters earning no decision in another 2-1 win. In the bottom of the 8th, Harrison Bader had an RBI single & Brandon Nimmo drew a bases loaded walk.

On April 20th, he gave up two runs in Los Angeles, taking another no decision in a 6-4 Mets victory. Thru his first three starts, Butto had a 1.65 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched with no decisions.

On April 26th he gave up six runs to the Cardinals taking a loss, then took a tough 1-0 loss to the Cubs at Citi Field where he gave up just one run in six innings.

On May 7th, Butto earned his first victory beating the Cardinals in St. Louis. He gave up three runs on five hits with three strike outs & three walks. He followed up with another tough luck loss, giving up two runs to the Phillies as Aaron Nola shut out the Mets with a complete game four hitter.

On May 14th, he was 1-3 with a 3.08 ERA notching 38 strike outs in 38 innings but had 21 walks. He was sent back down to AAA Syracuse returning on July 2nd. 

In his return back he was put in the bullpen & used as a reliever the rest of the season. The Mets had also become one of the winningest teams on a hot streak that would also last all season.

In his first two appearances he earned wins in Washington & Pittsburgh. On July 10th, he collected his first save with 1.1 scoreless innings in a win over the Nationals at Citi Field. 

On July 13th in his fourth game back, Butto came in relief in the 5th inning & pitched 2.2 scoreless innings against the Rockies, striking out five, earning his fourth victory. He was 4-3 with a 2.56 ERA with 46 strike outs in 45.2 innings. He closed out the month with two holds & his second save.

On August 7th in Colorado, he came on in the 7th inning & pitched two scoreless innings in a 5-3 Mets win earning the victory. In the 9th inning with the score tied, Jesse Winker & Francisco Lindor collected RBI singles for the win.

On August 23rd Butto blew a save against the Orioles, but Jesse Winker won the game with a walk off HR off Seranthony Dominguez. On August 25m he blew a 2-0 lead & another save giving up a two run HR to Jurickson Profar in San Diego. Edwin Diaz lost the game serving up a walk off HR to Jackson Merrill.

On August 31st, Butto earned his third save, in a win at Chicago. On September 10th, he came on
in the 10th inning holding the Reds scoreless in a 4-4 tie. Mark Vientos won the game with a walk off HR to give Butto the win. The Mets kept pace tied with the Braves for the final wild card spot.

On September 9th in Toronto, Butto came with the bases loaded & one out trying to hold a 1-0 Mets lead. He hit Leo Jimenez with a pitch & had Nathan Lukes hit a sac fly giving the Jays the lead. 

Although he blew his third save, the Mets won the game with a wild 8th inning where Tommy Nance who was pitching a no hitter gave up two walks, a base hit, a passed ball & a wild pitch giving the Mets the win. The Mets moved ahead of the Braves & one game behind Arizona in the wild card race.

Butto made three more appearances, with a big hold in a 2-1 win over the Phillies at Citi Field.

On the season, Butto was 7-3 with three saves & four holds. He posted a 2.55 ERA, with 79 strike outs & 38 walks in 74 innings in 30 appearances (seven starts & five games finished).

2024 Post Season- NLWC: In the NLWC win in Milwaukee, Butto made two appearances. In the Game #1 win he pitched two scoreless innings. 

In Game #3 he came on in the 7th inning of a scoreless game then gave up back-to-back HRs to Jake Bauers & Sal Frelick. Butto was bailed out by Pete Alonso's three run 9th inning HR leading to the Mts win & advancement to the NLDS.

2024 NLDS: In the NLDS win over the Phillies, Butto made one appearance in the Game #2 loss.

2024 NLCS: In the NLCS loss to the Dodgers he made three appearances used twice finishing off the Mets losses in Game #1 & Game #6. In the Game #4 loss, he came in in the 4th inning, giving up a two-run double to Mookie Betts. He also struck out three batters in two innings of work.

In the post season, he made seven appearances, collecting a hold allowing six runs, five earned on six hits with three walks & eight strike outs in seven innings.

Career Stats: In his three-year career he is 8-7 with three saves & a 3.38 ERA. Butto struck out 122 batters & walked 63 in 120 innings in 40 appearances, 15 starts.

Family: In July 2022 Jose married the former Emely (Rojas). Together they have one son. Butto enjoys his family time, playing video games & taking his son to the zoo.

Hobbies: Jose is a Barcelona soccer fan. His favorite foods are pasta carbonara & churrasco.

Mets Amazing Day: In January 2024, Butto attended the Amazing Day at Citi Field Fan Fest & took a picture with centerfieldmaz  in the bullpen area.