Butera was a fifth-round draft pick of the New York Mets. He has played seasons in Major League Baseball with the Twins, Dodgers, Angels, Royals and Rockies. Butera won a World Championship with the Kansas City Royals in 2015, catching the final strike that secured the title for the Royals. He also is one of only five players in Major League Baseball history to catch a no-hitter in both the American and National League. Butera is the UCF career record-holder in runners caught stealing, throwing out 63 would-be base stealers.