|
09/14/2009 10:08 AM ET
Barry Butera Named ValleyCats Most Valuble Player in 2009
Four former ValleyCats also named Astros minor league MVP
Tri-City ValleyCats
|
|
 Barry Butera caught fire in August for the ValleyCats, hitting .358. (Mark Morand - Mainframe Photography)
Related Links
MiLB Headlines
ADVERTISEMENT
|
TROY, N.Y. - The Houston Astros have announced its Most Valuable Player Awards for each of its minor league affiliates. Tri-City ValleyCats infielder Barry Butera earned the recognition for the Astros Short-Season Single-A affiliate.
Butera was selected in the 21st round in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft from Boston College. Butera spent three years as a Boston College Eagle, with his best season coming in 2009. Butera hit .326 in 57 games with a team-high four triples. He was college teammates with ValleyCats All-Star J.B. MacDonald.
The ValleyCats infielder struggled out of the gate in his first professional season, hitting just .191 in June and July. Butera adjusted to professional pitching in August, however, hitting .358. The left-handed hitting Butera had a stretch of six three-hit games in 11 dates between August 6 and August 19. Butera hit .267 overall in 61 games with 11 doubles.
Butera is a native of Covington, Louisiana. While at Boston College, Butera was enrolled in the Carroll School of Management. Barry comes from a baseball family, his father, Barry, played for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox in 1979-80.
Four former ValleyCats also received the honor of team MVP. The Triple-A Round Rock Express named 2005 ValleyCat Tommy Manzella the team MVP after hitting .289 with 153 hits in 133 games. Manzella was called up to the major leagues on September 7. Koby Clemens, a ValleyCat in 2006, was named The Single-A Advanced Lancaster JetHawks team MVP. Clemens hit .345 with 22 home runs and a minor league baseball high of 122 RBI. Brian Pellegrini, a member of the 2007 ValleyCats, earned honors for the Lexington Legends led the South Atlantic League in home runs.
Another member of the 2009 ValleyCats was named team Most Valuable Player. Infielder Jose Altuve was honored by the Rookie Greeneville Astros after hitting .324 with 20 doubles and 21 stolen bases. Altuve earned a late-season promotion to the ValleyCats on August 11 and played in 21 games down the stretch.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
| 
