The ink was still drying on the contract.
On the same day as Billy Butler's college graduation at the University of Rhode Island, the right-handed slugger signed to play in the MLB Draft League.
Butler was ready to start his life's next chapter – or so he thought.
Just a day earlier, Butler's dad, Bill Sr., gave some advice to consider:
"You can always play independent ball, but you can't always play college baseball."
The advice sat in the back of Butler's head because it struck him as odd to hear that from his dad, who has an old-school approach to the game. Unlike today, both Butlers believed in being loyal to the program that you sign to play. And Butler had shown just that as he devoted five years to the Rhode Island baseball program. But because of the COVID-19 season, he still had one year of college eligibility left.
"He's not the type of person to say for me to go into the portal for all the worldly things and the reasons for why most people go into the portal," Butler said. "But he was like, test the waters and see how it goes.
"So I was like, okay. I'll think about it."
Butler's contract had a 24-hour void clause, but he received an unexpected phone call just two hours after signing.
It was from Chuck Paiva, the general manager of the summer collegiate baseball team Newport Gulls. Butler anticipated that the longtime friend was calling to congratulate him on his future plans, but rather it was something of the opposite.
"I called him and said I have a spot here in Newport and asked what's your plans?" said Paiva remembering the phone call. "I didn't know it at the time; only after I had called him did he tell me he was graduating and signing. I wasn't aware of it."
The now-starting left fielder at Southern Miss took it as a sign and moments later voided his contract.
"I told him, how fortunate are you to graduate from URI on time, play there when you are healthy, and now get to experience something completely different at a school like Southern Miss? You are a blessed kid," Paiva said. "He's a wonderful young man who brings a tremendous amount of positivity to the field every day."
FINDING HIMSELF
Yet any inclination of getting to continue to play baseball was the farthest thought in Butler's mind in 2021. Rather, he thought his career might be over.
In his time at Rhode Island, Butler experienced what seemed like a never-ending string of shoulder injuries.
At the start of 2020, Butler first experienced a random crack in his shoulder during batting practice, which kept him from playing and ultimately led him to take a medical redshirt after the season's cancelation.
Fast forward a year, just two weeks before the beginning of the 2021 season, in a freak incident as he was moving his couch, Butler's shoulder dislocated and tore his labrum.
"During that time, the doctors I was talking to said I should go into coaching," Butler said. "Your shoulder is really messed up. As a 20-year-old kid, I'm like, jeez, is it worth it? I had all the questions, and I was doubting myself.
"I had to realize who I am as a person. I'm more than just a baseball player. I knew that, but I had to figure that out for myself."
Earlier that same year, Butler's grandmother passed away as she suffered from Alzheimer's Disease, but it gave him an idea of how to spend his time sidelined. With the help of his baseball coach, Butler and his team created a fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Association.
"I was just thinking to myself like I'm good with bringing people together," Butler said. "I like the thought of starting something culture-wise with my baseball team because we did nothing with fundraising or community outreach.
"So my coach, me, and then a couple of my teammates came together and came up with a pledge-based funding raising method where our family would pledge like $15 for every win or every strikeout was a $1."
The team raised over $14,000, with Butler also eventually getting to contribute on the field. Although he couldn't throw the ball, Butler could still swing a bat and opted not to have surgery. As a designated hitter in 89 at-bats, Butler hit .337 and homered five times.
"He wanted to do something and give back to the community," Rhode Island coach Raphael Cerrato said. "It was really all him. He took the ball and ran with it and got support from different people in our athletic department."
In addition, Butler later helped raise $7,000 for the Tomorrow Fund, which helps ease the financial stress for families whose children have been diagnosed with cancer. Butler's idea has carried on with the Rhode Island baseball team bringing back Butler's fundraising concept this season.
"We are doing something similar this year based on what he did," Cerrato said. "It's for a different foundation, but it's very similar to what Billy had done, so it stemmed from his idea."
With a newfound confidence at the start of the 2022 season, Butler had hoped to finally deliver for his baseball program, and in his first at-bat of the year, he hit a home run.
"I remember going around the bases, and I was like, 'Oh wow, this is going to be the best year ever,'" Butler said. "Instead, it was another test of how strong your faith is in yourself."
The very next inning, Butler attempted a diving catch that ended with him again injuring his shoulder and eventually requiring surgery, which ended his season.
"To come back and rehab from that, and even be able to throw a baseball, I think you could see he appreciates every moment he has on the field," Cerrato said. "As much as I would have loved to have Billy back, six years at one program would be a long time. I had no problem with him wanting to leave.
"He's the kind of kid you miss being around every day. Seeing him go through a lot of struggles health-wise, it's nice to see him have success."
ROAD TO HATTIESBURG
Butler successfully recovered from labrum surgery, and in 2023 turned in his best season as he recorded a .349 average, hit 13 homers and drove in 44 runs. Despite a successful final year at Rhode Island, Butler was unsure of what the transfer portal would hold for him.
"We obviously would check the portal daily at that time," Southern Miss head coach Christian Ostrander said. "It was totally something we had to start digging and diving on. You look at his numbers, and you look at video.
"We brought him on a visit and really felt the connection about the human being part of how this guy who would fit in with our culture."
Ironically, Butler happened to be watching Southern Miss' final game against Tennessee in last year's Super Regional, and he particularly remembered the standing ovation the now-retired Scott Berry received after the Golden Eagles' loss.
"I had no clue what Southern Miss was," Butler said. "The most I knew about Southern Miss was the eagle head in the top 25 every week. I remember watching the final game with Coach Berry last year, and I remember everyone giving him a standing ovation. I remembered that when I was on the phone with Coach Oz.
"As soon as I'm on the phone with Coach Oz, it feels completely different. He wanted me for who I was as a person. The talent was like a plus for him."
Southern Miss was Butler's first and eventually only college visit. He immediately committed on the spot after meeting the Golden Eagles coaching staff.
Since joining the lineup Butler's presence has been immediate as the transfer is tied with a team-leading four home runs and holds a .361 batting average.
"This game and this program are a lot bigger than me," Butler said. "It's a lot bigger than me and it's a lot bigger than our team. It's the whole city.
"When I leave here, hopefully, I leave it better than I found it."
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