William Jennings Buckner (born August 27, 1983) is an American former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professiona ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, who attempts to e ...

, who played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL) ...

(MLB) for the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expa ...

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. ...

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...

, and

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...

Baseball career

Kansas City Royals

Buckner was originally drafted in the 9th round (248th overall) by the

Tampa Bay Devil Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home ve ...

in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft out of

Young Harris College Young Harris College is a private Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college in Young Harris, Georgia, United States. History Origins The school was founded in 1886 by Artemas Lester, a circuit-riding Methodist minister who wanted to ...

, but chose not to sign and instead played college baseball at the University of South Carolina. He was drafted again in 2004 by the

in the second round as the 55th overall pick. In his fourth season in the Royals organization, Buckner was called up to the big league club on August 24, 2007.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On December 14, 2007, Buckner was traded to the

for

infielder An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...

Alberto Callaspo Alberto José Callaspo Brito (, ; born April 19, 1983) is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels of ...

Detroit Tigers

On June 1, 2010, Buckner was traded to the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

for

Dontrelle Willis Dontrelle Wayne Willis (born January 12, 1982), nicknamed "The D-Train", is an American former left-handed professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinn ...

and cash considerations. He was released on July 25, 2010.

Colorado Rockies

On December 20, 2010, Buckner was signed by the

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fi ...

to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. Buckner had hoped to compete for a spot on the roster, but spent the entire season in Triple-A with the

Colorado Springs Sky Sox The Colorado Springs Sky Sox were a Minor League Baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team played in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and was the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Milwaukee Brewers (2015–2018), Colorado Rocki ...

where he was 4-8 with a 6.03 ERA in 23 appearances. He was traded for a player to be named later however the Rockies never bothered to claim the other player.

Boston Red Sox

On March 2, 2012, Buckner signed a minor league deal with the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eig ...

with an invitation to their minor league camp. He was expected to compete for a starting pitching role in their system. Buckner began the season with the Double-A

Portland Sea Dogs The Portland Sea Dogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Portland, Maine, playing in the Eastern League. Established in 1994, the Sea Dogs are the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The Sea Dogs became part of the Red Sox syst ...

. He was called up to the Triple-A

Pawtucket Red Sox The Pawtucket Red Sox, known colloquially as the PawSox, were a professional minor league baseball club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1973 to 2020, the team was a member of the International League and served as the Triple-A affiliate ...

but never reached the major league club. He elected free agency at the end of the season, in which he had a 3.65 ERA in 27 starts.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Buckner signed a minor league deal with the

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...

on November 14, 2012. He was assigned to the Triple-A

Salt Lake Bees The Salt Lake Bees are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. They are located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and play their home games at Smith's Ballpark. The ballpark op ...

. He was called up to the Angels on May 16 and made his first start since 2010 on May 25, 2013. He was designated for assignment on May 26, 2013. He was designated for assignment again on July 25, 2013. He was designated for assignment a third time on August 23, 2013.

San Diego Padres

On April 21, 2014, the

signed Buckner to a minor league deal. On May 24, the Padres selected his contract from the Triple-A

El Paso Chihuahuas The El Paso Chihuahuas are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. They are located in El Paso, Texas, and play their home games at Southwest University Park, which opened ...

to make a start against the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is locate ...

that night. He was designated for assignment the next day, and outrighted back to El Paso on May 27.

Milwaukee Brewers

Buckner signed a minor league deal with the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. The Brewers are named for the city's association wi ...

on August 16, 2014.

Long Island Ducks

Buckner signed with the

Long Island Ducks The Long Island Ducks are an American professional minor-league baseball team based on Long Island in Central Islip, New York. The Ducks compete in the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), an independent "part ...

of the

Atlantic League of Professional Baseball The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league based in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Atlantic League's ...

for the 2015 season. He became a free agent after the 2015 season.

Return to Arizona Diamondbacks

On May 9, 2016, Buckner signed a minor league deal with the

. He became a free agent on November 7, 2016.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buckner, Billy 1983 births Living people People from Decatur, Georgia Kansas City Royals players Arizona Diamondbacks players Los Angeles Angels players San Diego Padres players Major League Baseball pitchers Baseball players from Georgia (U.S. state) Young Harris Mountain Lions baseball players South Carolina Gamecocks baseball players Idaho Falls Chukars players Burlington Bees players High Desert Mavericks players Wichita Wranglers players Omaha Royals players Tucson Sidewinders players Reno Aces players Toledo Mud Hens players Colorado Springs Sky Sox players Portland Sea Dogs players Pawtucket Red Sox players Salt Lake Bees players El Paso Chihuahuas players Nashville Sounds players Long Island Ducks players