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

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), 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 played in

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(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) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...

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

, 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 (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...

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 the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. They are one of two major league clubs based i ...

in the

2003 Major League Baseball Draft The 2003 Major League Baseball draft, was held on June 3 and 4. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams. ''Source:MLB.com 2003 Draft Tracker' First round selections Supplemental first r ...

out of

Young Harris College Young Harris College is a Private college, private Methodist-affiliated Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Young Harris, Georgia, United States. History Origins The school was founded in 1886 by Artemas Le ...

, but chose not to sign and instead played college baseball at the

University of South Carolina The University of South Carolina (USC, SC, or Carolina) is a Public university, public research university in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1801 as South Carolina College, It is the flagship of the University of South Car ...

. 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, between first base and third base. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns pla ...

Alberto Callaspo.

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 club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

in exchange for

Dontrelle Willis Dontrelle Wayne Willis (born January 12, 1982), nicknamed "the D-Train", is an American former professional baseball pitcher. A left-hander, he played in Major League Baseball for the Miami Marlins, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamo ...

and cash considerations. He was released by Detroit on July 25.

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 (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

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 (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers (2015–2018), Colorado R ...

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) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

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 (1938–present), Eastern League. Established in 1994, the Sea Dogs are the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red ...

. 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 Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...

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

Salt Lake Bees The Salt Lake Bees are a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team that plays in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Based in South Jordan, Utah, the team plays its home games at The Ballpark at Am ...

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

San Diego Padres

On April 21, 2014, the

signed Buckner to a minor league contract. 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 based in El Paso, Texas. The Chihuahuas compete in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) as the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Sou ...

to make a start against the

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that night. He was designated for assignment the next day, and sent outright back to El Paso on May 27. Buckner was released by the Padres organization on August 3.

Milwaukee Brewers

Buckner signed a minor league deal with the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...

on August 16, 2014.

Long Island Ducks

On May 19, 2015, 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 "par ...

of the

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

. In 18 games (11 starts) 69.2 innings he went 8-3 with a 4.00 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 1 save. He became a free agent after the 2015 season.

Arizona Diamondbacks (second stint)

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

organization. He made 20 appearances (15 starts) split between the Double–A

Mobile BayBears The Mobile BayBears were a Minor League Baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama, United States. The team, which played in the Southern League, served as the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres (1997–2006), Arizona Diamondbacks (2007–2 ...

and Triple–A

Reno Aces The Reno Aces are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Reno, Nevada, and play their home games at Greater Nevada Field, w ...

, posting an aggregate 5–8 record and 4.00 ERA with 87 strikeouts across innings pitched. Buckner elected free agency following the season on November 7.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buckner, Billy 1983 births Living people Sportspeople 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 Young Harris College alumni