Earlier this month at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg former UCF catcher Drew Butera made his return to the Sunshine State as the Minnesota Twins visited the Tampa Bay Rays, just 121 miles away from Jay Bergman Field, where Butera made his home from 2003-05.

Butera made starts in three of the four games in place of American League MVP Joe Mauer, who was dealing with a sore shoulder. And he took advantage of the playing time as he went 4-for-10 in the series, hitting his second homerun of the season on Aug. 3 off Rays starting pitcher Jeff Niemann in the top of seventh inning to tie the game.

Drew Butera (Photo by Wayne Kryduba, Minnesota Twins)

Butera has been used in the lineup this season for his defense skills. In games that he’s caught, Twins pitchers have posted a 3.50 earned run average while primarily being teamed up with Twins starter Carl Pavano.

“He’s a crucial part of this team,” said Pavano. “We work well together. He frames the ball very well, calls a good game. He’s everything you need in a catcher.”

There’s still so much work to be done for the young backstop, though.

“My main focus is not to lose anything defensively, put down the right fingers, and try to control the running game,” said Butera. “For them to say they like throwing to me, that’s part of my goal and definitely shows that my work is paying off.”

Butera is in his rookie season with the Twins after making the roster as the No. 2 catcher out of Spring Training.

“He been doing a great job,” said Mauer of Butera. “He handles the pitching staff great. He can handle himself in this level, he’s proven that to everyone.”

When your backing up a four-time all-star, three-time batting champion and the face of the Twins organization it’s hard to get noticed and to get playing time. But Butera has had his moments. He made his Major League Baseball debut on April 9 against the Chicago White Sox and got his first major league hit against the Cleveland Indians on April 22.

The highlight of the year for Butera came on June 19 against the Philadelphia Phillies as he hit his first major league homer in a 13-10 win in 11 innings.

Butera signed with UCF out of Bishop Moore High School in the fall of 2002 after passing on a contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, who drafted him in the 48th round of the MLB Draft. He had a great career as a Knight as he made the starting lineup immediately and helped lead UCF to the 2004 Atlantic Sun Regular Season Championship and a berth into the NCAA Tournament. UCF reached the NCAA Regional Championship Game in Tallahassee that year by upsetting No. 7 Florida State before eventually being eliminated by the Seminoles.

UCF finished with 47-18 record that year as Butera hit .282 on the season. In 2005, Butera had his best season as he hit .325 and was a Johnny Bench Award Semi-finalist. He would go on to be drafted in the fifth round by the New York Mets.

Now he’s in the majors, looking to get better everyday while staying involved in a playoff race. The Twins are currently battling it out with Chicago in the AL Central Division where they enter the weekend with a four-game lead over the White Sox.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –