By: Billi Derleth, Assistant Sports Information Director
LOS ANGELES, Calif.-- Biola University alumni Connor Butler achieved a major career milestone when he was chosen in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft as the 609th pick for the Boston Red Sox.
The 6-foot left-handed hurler is excited to make his professional baseball dream a reality with the Red Sox and attributes much of this opportunity to his time spent at Biola.
With the selection, Butler becomes the third Eagle since 2011 to be selected in the MLB draft directly out of Biola's program and is the 23rd Biola alum to be drafted by a Major League Baseball team.
"I'm so excited for Connor," said head baseball coach Jeff Calhoon. "He has worked incredibly hard for this opportunity. I am so proud of his development not just on the mound, but also as a man. His best baseball is ahead of him and I cannot wait to support him!"
Butler spent two seasons with the Eagles where he was 2-3 on the hill, tossed 33.2 innings, and had a career 5.96 ERA while striking out 65 batters. In the 2022 season, batters averaged a mere .071 against him and he had a career-high of 47 strikeouts. Seven of Butler's 47 strikeouts were in a three-inning relief effort against Concordia which was a career game-high.
"Biola was a great baseball environment for me," beamed Butler. "Coach Calhoon really cares about his players on and off the field. Over the last couple years he allowed me to be me which I'm grateful for. Coach Quentin McGrath and Luke Mattson both helped me a lot this year with the mental side of the game which was something I needed to work on. Overall, I can't thank the staff and my teammates enough for all the guidance over the last two years."
Butler is the second player selected in the MLB Draft from Biola under Calhoon and the 15th MLB draft pick produced during Calhoon's young career.
