Colorado Rockies re-sign Team Italy's Drew Butera to minor league contract with invitation to Spring Training

Team Italy catcher and designated hitter Drew Butera recently re-signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies with an invitation to Spring Training Camp beginning in early February in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 36-year-old veteran with a decade of MLB experience under his belt will be competing for an opening day roster spot against 24-year-old Dom Nuñez as the backup to everyday catcher Tony Wolters.

Drew Butera, who has represented Team Italy in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics, attended the fourth annual Italian American Baseball Foundation Gala Dinner in Brooklyn on December 4, 2019. He is the son of Team Italy coach and Toronto Blue Jays scout Sal Butera, a former journeyman catcher who played 359 MLB games for the Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos and Detroit Tigers from 1980-1988. One of 235 father-son combinations to play in the big leagues, Sal and Drew Butera are just the third father and son duo to each win a World Series.

Drew Butera spent most of last season playing for Colorado Rockies Triple-A affiliate Albuquerque Isotopes, where he registered a respectable .300 batting average while playing in 67 games. He also played in 16 MLB games and made 49 plate appearances for the Colorado Rockies in September. 2019 proved to be a memorable year for Drew Butera as he was inducted into the University of Central Florida Hall of Fame. Forza #Italia!

by Roberto Angotti