June 7, 2005
Butera draft bio in PDF Format
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NEW YORK, N.Y. - UCF junior catcher Drew Butera was selected by the New York Mets in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Tuesday. Butera is the second UCF player to be drafted, joining junior right-handed pitcher Mike Billek. Billek was selected by the Chicago Cubs in third round of the MLB Draft.
"I am ecstatic," commented Butera. "It is a dream come true and I have plenty of family in the New York area," added Butera.
"Drew is arguably the best catcher we have ever had at UCF," stated head coach Jay Bergman.
Butera is only the third player selected by the Mets through five rounds of the draft. He is the highest drafted catcher in UCF history.
Butera was the 149th player selected after a strong junior campaign for the Golden Knights. A semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award - given annually to the nation's top collegiate catcher - Butera was a second team A-Sun selection and an A-Sun all-tournament team member.
One of the nation's top defensive catchers, Butera limited the opposition to just 30 stolen bases in 58 attempts. He hit .325 - second best on the team - and set career-highs in hits (67), runs (48), doubles (13), triples (2), home runs (5), RBI (41), total bases (99) and stolen bases (10).
Butera is the first UCF player chosen by the Mets since David Torres in the 47th round of the 2003 MLB Draft. Butera was drafted by Toronto in the 48th round out of high school.
He is the second position player from UCF in the last two years to be drafted in the top five rounds. Center fielder Clay Timpner was a fourth round pick of the San Francisco Giants last year.
Butera is the son of former Major Leaguer Sal Butera. His father was also a catcher and played for the Blue Jays, Reds, Expos and Twins. He earned a World Series championship ring with the Twins.