UC Irvine’s David Butler brings veteran right-handed stability with late-season leverage upside
In the 2025 season, Butler worked as a multi-role right-hander for UC Irvine, finishing with a 4.95 ERA over 40.0 innings and 36 strikeouts, and he flashed real value in high-profile spots, including a 2.1-inning scoreless outing to earn the win against USC in April 2026.[6][15] The appeal here is feel and versatility: he’s a fifth-year arm with Big West experience, enough strike-throwing to matter, and the kind of competitive, “give-me-the-ball” profile coaches usually trust in tight games.[4][7]
