Butler grew up in Rock Hill, S.C, watching his father, Mike, play church league softball. The elder Butler introduced him to baseball at an early age. “Ever since I was little, I was running and throwing with balls,” said Butler, who played organized baseball for the first time at age 9. He played his high school ball at Rock Hill High School. As a senior at Appalachian State, Butler hit .313 with 18 doubles, eight homers and 34 RBI. The year before, as a junior, he hit .338 with 66 hits, 14 doubles, four homers and 35 RBI.