Jose Butto Stats & Scouting Report

IP	74
ERA	2.55
WHIP	1.07
BB/9	4.62
SO/9	9.61

Full name José Alejandro Butto
Born 03/19/1998 in Cumana, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 202 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 08/21/2022

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 45/Medium

Track Record: Butto gained steam as a prospect by shining at the alternate training site in 2020. He finished 2021 at Double-A and then reached Triple-A in 2022, when he made his major league debut with an Aug. 21 start against the Phillies. Butto began the 2023 season with Triple-A Syracuse and received three separate callups to New York, including a run of five September starts in which he logged a 3.29 ERA in 27.1 innings that included 28 strikeouts and nine walks.

Scouting Report: Butto’s separating pitch has always been his changeup. The plus mid-80s pitch drops and fades to his arm side, and induces batters to swing over it, especially if they’re looking for something else. Butto’s 93-95 mph four-seam fastball rides to the top of the zone, which hurt him with the automated ball-strike system in use at Triple-A. High strikes were in short supply, and Butto’s walk rate spiked to a career-high 12%. He added a two-seam grip to compensate, and the addition helped him get back into counts and, he said, gain greater feel for his four-seam. Butto’s slider made strides in 2023. He amped up the pitch to the high 80s and used it with greater frequency to give him a second putaway weapon. He mixes in an occasional 80 mph curveball as a disruptor. Butto is an extreme flyball pitcher who walks a tightrope without excellent stuff or control.

The Future: Butto reached the majors in 2022 and 2023 and has one minor league option remaining. He will be 26 years old in what will be a crucial 2024. He has a chance to pitch his way into the rotation or serve in a long reliever/swingman role similar to the one Trevor Williams filled in 2022.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Butto signed at age 19 in 2017 and surged forward during the canceled 2020 season. He was one of the most impressive pitching prospects at the Mets' alternate training site. Butto reached Double-A in 2021 and then Triple-A in 2022 before making his big league debut with an Aug. 21 spot start. He led the Mets' system with 129 innings and ranked among the leaders with 138 strikeouts, a 17.5 K-BB% and a 3.56 ERA.

Scouting Report: Butto has worked almost exclusively as a starter in the minors, but his repertoire would probably be best suited to the bullpen in the big leagues. His four-seam fastball tops out at 96 mph and sits closer to 93. The pitch rides to the top of the strike zone and has good shape. Butto throws an outstanding changeup with armside fade and 10 mph or more of separation off his fastball. The pitch enhances his effectiveness against lefthanded hitters. Butto doesn't have the same type of differentiating weapon against righthanded hitters. His high-70s curveball and low-80s slider lack the type of power and late bite associated with dominant breaking pitches. He is a flyball pitcher susceptible to the longball when he misses his spots.

The Future: Based on the strength of his two primary pitches and solid-average control, Butto has a chance to fill a swingman role for a contending team.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 40. Slider: 40. Changeup: 60. Control: 50.
Track Record: Nothing about Butto’s development has been conventional. He signed out of Venezuela at age 19 in 2017 and didn’t reach a full-season league until he was 21. Butto took his greatest developmental strides at instructional league in 2020, following the canceled minor league season, when he threw a ton of strikes and limited hard contact. He pitched his way to Double-A in late July, positioning him for an MLB role in 2022.

Scouting Report: Butto is an athletic strike-thrower with the best changeup in the organization. His low-80s circle-change sinks and fades slightly as it nears the plate and at peak features 12 mph or more of separation from his fastball. Butto sells his changeup because it comes from the same tunnel as his fastball, a four-seamer that ranges from 92-96 mph and sits near 93 with good vertical finish. His fastball and change helped him generate a 16.1% swinging-strike rate that ranked 16th in the minors among pitchers with at least 90 innings. Developing his curveball would give him a glove-side weapon to attack righthanded hitters and solidify Butto as a rotation prospect. His curve is a fringe pitch in the low 80s with 12-to-6 break and average depth that he tends to cast early. He has upped its usage to 16% versus righthanded hitters. He is a flyball pitcher who can be homer-prone when he loses feel for his changeup.

The Future: As a three-pitch starter who has had some success at Double-A, Butto is lined up for MLB innings at some point in 2022. He projects as a No. 5 starter or quality reliever.
TRACK RECORD: Butto signed at age 19 in 2017 and worked his way to low Class A Columbia in 2019. He finished strong to rank among the South Atlantic League top 10 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Butto was one of the most impressive pitchers at the Mets' instructional league in 2020, throwing strikes at a high rate, limiting hard contact and striking out a batter per inning.

SCOUTING REPORT: Butto throws the best changeup in the Mets' system. He uses a circle-change grip and sells the low-80s pitch with identical arm speed and tunnel as his fastball. His changeup fades to his arm side and features as much as 13 mph of separation from his fastball. Butto can reach the mid 90s in short outings but parks at 91-94 mph in starts. His fastball has plus spin and plus ride, making the pitch difficult to pick up when located up in the zone. Butto used his time at the alternate training site and instructs to gain confidence in his below-average curveball. The Mets challenged him to up his curve usage from 10% to 20% and spin the pitch straight up and down to complement his riding fastball. He developed enough trust to use it as more than a show-me pitch.

THE FUTURE: While on the short side for a righthanded starter, Butto is solidly built and throws three pitches. He is the Mets' most under-the-radar future starter, probably in a No. 5-type capacity.
TRACK RECORD: Butto signed as a 19-year-old out of Venezuela in 2017 and spent two seasons in short-season leagues before being assigned to low Class A Columbia in 2019. He rounded into shape after a rocky start and ranked inside the South Atlantic League top 10 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.

SCOUTING REPORT: Butto throws the best changeup in the Mets' farm system. It elicits swings and misses from both lefthanded and righthanded batters with its diving action, coupled with Butto's convincing arm speed. That plus pitch allowed him to record the sixth highest swinging-strike rate in the SAL. Butto pitched in the low 90s early in the season but gained steam as the season progressed and he shifted to a two-inning role. He sat mid-90s and topped out at 98 mph late in the season, that extra velocity making his changeup even more devastating as batters geared up for heat. His below-average curveball shows slurve action and suffers from poor command.

THE FUTURE: Butto is primed to move quickly as a fastball/changeup reliever if the Mets want to pursue that route. He would need to make dramatic progress with his curve to profile in the rotation.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Changeup in the New York Mets in 2020

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Butto signed at age 19 in 2017 and surged forward during the canceled 2020 season. He was one of the most impressive pitching prospects at the Mets' alternate training site. Butto reached Double-A in 2021 and then Triple-A in 2022 before making his big league debut with an Aug. 21 spot start. He led the Mets' system with 129 innings and ranked among the leaders with 138 strikeouts, a 17.5 K-BB% and a 3.56 ERA.

Scouting Report: Butto has worked almost exclusively as a starter in the minors, but his repertoire would probably be best suited to the bullpen in the big leagues. His four-seam fastball tops out at 96 mph and sits closer to 93. The pitch rides to the top of the strike zone and has good shape. Butto throws an outstanding changeup with armside fade and 10 mph or more of separation off his fastball. The pitch enhances his effectiveness against lefthanded hitters. Butto doesn't have the same type of differentiating weapon against righthanded hitters. His high-70s curveball and low-80s slider lack the type of power and late bite associated with dominant breaking pitches. He is a flyball pitcher susceptible to the longball when he misses his spots.

The Future: Based on the strength of his two primary pitches and solid-average control, Butto has a chance to fill a swingman role for a contending team.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 40. Slider: 40. Changeup: 60. Control: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Butto signed at age 19 in 2017 and surged forward during the canceled 2020 season. He was one of the most impressive pitching prospects at the Mets' alternate training site. Butto reached Double-A in 2021 and then Triple-A in 2022 before making his big league debut with an Aug. 21 spot start. He led the Mets' system with 129 innings and ranked among the leaders with 138 strikeouts, a 17.5 K-BB% and a 3.56 ERA.

Scouting Report: Butto has worked almost exclusively as a starter in the minors, but his repertoire would probably be best suited to the bullpen in the big leagues. His four-seam fastball tops out at 96 mph and sits closer to 93. The pitch rides to the top of the strike zone and has good shape. Butto throws an outstanding changeup with armside fade and 10 mph or more of separation off his fastball. The pitch enhances his effectiveness against lefthanded hitters. Butto doesn't have the same type of differentiating weapon against righthanded hitters. His high-70s curveball and low-80s slider lack the type of power and late bite associated with dominant breaking pitches. He is a flyball pitcher susceptible to the longball when he misses his spots.

The Future: Based on the strength of his two primary pitches and solid-average control, Butto has a chance to fill a swingman role for a contending team.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 40. Slider: 40. Changeup: 60. Control: 50.
BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Nothing about Butto&#39s development has been conventional. He signed out of Venezuela at age 19 in 2017 and didn&#39t reach a full-season league until he was 21. Butto took his greatest developmental strides at instructional league in 2020, following the canceled minor league season, when he threw a ton of strikes and limited hard contact. He pitched his way to Double-A in late July, positioning him for an MLB role in 2022.

Scouting Report: Butto is an athletic strike-thrower with the best changeup in the organization. His low-80s circle-change sinks and fades slightly as it nears the plate and at peak features 12 mph or more of separation from his fastball. Butto sells his changeup because it comes from the same tunnel as his fastball, a four-seamer that ranges from 92-96 mph and sits near 93 with good vertical finish. His fastball and change helped him generate a 16.1% swinging-strike rate that ranked 16th in the minors among pitchers with at least 90 innings. Developing his curveball would give him a glove-side weapon to attack righthanded hitters and solidify Butto as a rotation prospect. His curve is a fringe pitch in the low 80s with 12-to-6 break and average depth that he tends to cast early. He has upped its usage to 16% versus righthanded hitters. He is a flyball pitcher who can be homer-prone when he loses feel for his changeup.

The Future: As a three-pitch starter who has had some success at Double-A, Butto is lined up for MLB innings at some point in 2022. He projects as a No. 5 starter or quality reliever.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 40. Changeup: 60. Control: 50.
Track Record: Nothing about Butto’s development has been conventional. He signed out of Venezuela at age 19 in 2017 and didn’t reach a full-season league until he was 21. Butto took his greatest developmental strides at instructional league in 2020, following the canceled minor league season, when he threw a ton of strikes and limited hard contact. He pitched his way to Double-A in late July, positioning him for an MLB role in 2022.

Scouting Report: Butto is an athletic strike-thrower with the best changeup in the organization. His low-80s circle-change sinks and fades slightly as it nears the plate and at peak features 12 mph or more of separation from his fastball. Butto sells his changeup because it comes from the same tunnel as his fastball, a four-seamer that ranges from 92-96 mph and sits near 93 with good vertical finish. His fastball and change helped him generate a 16.1% swinging-strike rate that ranked 16th in the minors among pitchers with at least 90 innings. Developing his curveball would give him a glove-side weapon to attack righthanded hitters and solidify Butto as a rotation prospect. His curve is a fringe pitch in the low 80s with 12-to-6 break and average depth that he tends to cast early. He has upped its usage to 16% versus righthanded hitters. He is a flyball pitcher who can be homer-prone when he loses feel for his changeup.

The Future: As a three-pitch starter who has had some success at Double-A, Butto is lined up for MLB innings at some point in 2022. He projects as a No. 5 starter or quality reliever.
TRACK RECORD: Butto signed at age 19 in 2017 and worked his way to low Class A Columbia in 2019. He finished strong to rank among the South Atlantic League top 10 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Butto was one of the most impressive pitchers at the Mets' instructional league in 2020, throwing strikes at a high rate, limiting hard contact and striking out a batter per inning.

SCOUTING REPORT: Butto throws the best changeup in the Mets' system. He uses a circle-change grip and sells the low-80s pitch with identical arm speed and tunnel as his fastball. His changeup fades to his arm side and features as much as 13 mph of separation from his fastball. Butto can reach the mid 90s in short outings but parks at 91-94 mph in starts. His fastball has plus spin and plus ride, making the pitch difficult to pick up when located up in the zone. Butto used his time at the alternate training site and instructs to gain confidence in his below-average curveball. The Mets challenged him to up his curve usage from 10% to 20% and spin the pitch straight up and down to complement his riding fastball. He developed enough trust to use it as more than a show-me pitch.

THE FUTURE: While on the short side for a righthanded starter, Butto is solidly built and throws three pitches. He is the Mets' most under-the-radar future starter, probably in a No. 5-type capacity.
TRACK RECORD: Butto signed at age 19 in 2017 and worked his way to low Class A Columbia in 2019. He finished strong to rank among the South Atlantic League top 10 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Butto was one of the most impressive pitchers at the Mets' instructional league in 2020, throwing strikes at a high rate, limiting hard contact and striking out a batter per inning.

SCOUTING REPORT: Butto throws the best changeup in the Mets' system. He uses a circle-change grip and sells the low-80s pitch with identical arm speed and tunnel as his fastball. His changeup fades to his arm side and features as much as 13 mph of separation from his fastball. Butto can reach the mid 90s in short outings but parks at 91-94 mph in starts. His fastball has plus spin and plus ride, making the pitch difficult to pick up when located up in the zone. Butto used his time at the alternate training site and instructs to gain confidence in his below-average curveball. The Mets challenged him to up his curve usage from 10% to 20% and spin the pitch straight up and down to complement his riding fastball. He developed enough trust to use it as more than a show-me pitch.

THE FUTURE: While on the short side for a righthanded starter, Butto is solidly built and throws three pitches. He is the Mets' most under-the-radar future starter, probably in a No. 5-type capacity.
TRACK RECORD: Butto signed at age 19 in 2017 and worked his way to low Class A Columbia in 2019. He finished strong to rank among the South Atlantic League top 10 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Butto was one of the most impressive pitchers at the Mets' instructional league in 2020, throwing strikes at a high rate, limiting hard contact and striking out a batter per inning.

SCOUTING REPORT: Butto throws the best changeup in the Mets' system. He uses a circle-change grip and sells the low-80s pitch with identical arm speed and tunnel as his fastball. His changeup fades to his arm side and features as much as 13 mph of separation from his fastball. Butto can reach the mid 90s in short outings but parks at 91-94 mph in starts. His fastball has plus spin and plus ride, making the pitch difficult to pick up when located up in the zone. Butto used his time at the alternate training site and instructs to gain confidence in his below-average curveball. The Mets challenged him to up his curve usage from 10% to 20% and spin the pitch straight up and down to complement his riding fastball. He developed enough trust to use it as more than a show-me pitch.

THE FUTURE: While on the short side for a righthanded starter, Butto is solidly built and throws three pitches. He is the Mets' most under-the-radar future starter, probably in a No. 5-type capacity.
TRACK RECORD: Butto signed as a 19-year-old out of Venezuela in 2017 and spent two seasons in short-season leagues before being assigned to low Class A Columbia in 2019. He rounded into shape after a rocky start and ranked inside the South Atlantic League top 10 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.

SCOUTING REPORT: Butto throws the best changeup in the Mets’ farm system. It elicits swings and misses from both lefthanded and righthanded batters with its diving action, coupled with Butto’s convincing arm speed. That plus pitch allowed him to record the sixth highest swinging-strike rate in the SAL. Butto pitched in the low 90s early in the season but gained steam as the season progressed and he shifted to a two-inning role. He sat mid-90s and topped out at 98 mph late in the season, that extra velocity making his changeup even more devastating as batters geared up for heat. His below-average curveball shows slurve action and suffers from poor command.

THE FUTURE: Butto is primed to move quickly as a fastball/changeup reliever if the Mets want to pursue that route. He would need to make dramatic progress with his curve to profile in the rotation.
TRACK RECORD: Butto signed as a 19-year-old out of Venezuela in 2017 and spent two seasons in short-season leagues before being assigned to low Class A Columbia in 2019. He rounded into shape after a rocky start and ranked inside the South Atlantic League top 10 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.

SCOUTING REPORT: Butto throws the best changeup in the Mets' farm system. It elicits swings and misses from both lefthanded and righthanded batters with its diving action, coupled with Butto's convincing arm speed. That plus pitch allowed him to record the sixth highest swinging-strike rate in the SAL. Butto pitched in the low 90s early in the season but gained steam as the season progressed and he shifted to a two-inning role. He sat mid-90s and topped out at 98 mph late in the season, that extra velocity making his changeup even more devastating as batters geared up for heat. His below-average curveball shows slurve action and suffers from poor command.

THE FUTURE: Butto is primed to move quickly as a fastball/changeup reliever if the Mets want to pursue that route. He would need to make dramatic progress with his curve to profile in the rotation.