Cramped leg aside, Butia starts strong in cleanup position
The Indians' fifth-round pick just signed his contract on Tuesday.
By KURT SNYDER
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NILES - Mike Butia's professional debut did not end when he wanted it Friday night.
But while he was in the game, he did not disappoint the Mahoning Valley fans.
Butia, the fifth-round pick of the Indians in this month's amateur draft, had four hits and drove in the Scrappers' first two runs before leaving with a cramp in his leg in the seventh inning of Mahoning Valley's 3-2 opening-night win over Auburn
Butia, who injured himself while beating out his second infield hit of the night, said the cramp is minor and expects to be back in the lineup for tonight's game.
Dehydrated
"I kind of felt it coming," he said. "I was dehydrated to begin with and I tried to catch up but it was too late."
The left-handed hitting outfielder, who just signed his first professional contract Tuesday, started in left field and batted cleanup. In the fifth inning, with two on after Chris Clem's single and Brett Parker's double to center, Butia hit a bouncer past Auburn first baseman Chip Cannon to drive in both runners. The hit gave the Scrappers a 2-1 lead.
"I didn't even hit the ball that hard," he said. "I just got lucky. They fell in, but hey, I will take it."
Scrappers manager Mike Sarbaugh said the four-hit night was better than he could have hoped for his young cleanup hitter.
"For his first professional night, you have to love that," Sarbaugh said. "It's a great start."
Butia, who went to North Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh and played in Youngstown's B League for a season with a team from his school, hit .353 for three seasons at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. This past season, Butia led the Dukes in every major offensive category. He hit .373, tied a school-record with 18 home runs and drove in 60 runs.
Butia was the only position player selected by the Indians until their 10th pick in the draft. But Sarbaugh said Butia and the other six players recently drafted don't seem to be bothered by high expectations.
Good at-bats
"I think the first night they are just trying to put some good at-bats together," Sarbaugh said. "I don't think they put any pressure on themselves about draft picks."
Butia said he had no doubts about signing a professional contract despite having the opportunity to play his senior season at James Madison.
"I knew I wanted to play all year," he said. "That's what I told the guys. 'I just want to get out here and play.' We got it done quick."
While Butia's professional career is just beginning, he said he could get used to the crowd support. The over-capacity total of 7,274 is the second-largest in team history.
"Unbelievable," he said of the crowd. "I've never really played in front of this many people before."
Playing for the Scrappers also means Butia will see familiar faces in the stands as he lives just an hour away.
"My parents will be able to come up," he said. "And a lot of my friends from high school, they were really fired up when they heard I was coming here."
ksnyder@vindy.com