Burnout, Rediscovery, and Fresh Challenges: Ty Buttrey's Story
- jgperro
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Born on March 31, 1932, in North Carolina, Ty Buttrey developed a strong passion for baseball early on. His talent shone during his high school career, culminating in his selection by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2012 MLB Draft. After joining the Red Sox organization, Buttrey had success, struggles, and more success in the minors.
"I sucked for a good three and half, four years," says Buttrey. " I really kind of started getting into training improper ways, lost a ton of mobility, lost a lot of velocity, lost my curve ball, my mechanics started getting out of whack, had a little back injury. I just really started like for about two and a half, three years was stuck at this low period, lost kind of the prospect status, all that stuff. Then wasn't until I really got moved to the bullpen and started changing on my training program and my mindset, I really started diving into the mental side. Then it just kind of catapulted within like a year and a half ⁓ in AA, AAA and then get traded to the Angels."
He was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for veteran Ian Kinsler at the 2018 trade deadline. This trade opened a new chapter in Buttrey’s career, providing him with opportunities. Ty made his Major League Baseball debut on August 16, 2018, with the Los Angeles Angels. During the 2019 season, Buttrey emerged as a critical component of the Angels' bullpen, He was a reliable option in high-pressure situations. By the end of 2020, the game had taken a physical, emotional, and mental toll on Ty.
"I had a lot of success, but I wanted so much success and I wanted to keep getting better and better," explains Buttrey. "And you can kind of lead yourself to a little bit of burnout, fatigue, exhaustion, getting kind of stressed out. And it should be, go out there, lift your leg, do the same thing over, change the ball around, don't overthink it, get hitters out."
The following spring, 2021, Ty called it quits at the age of 28. "There wasn't this feeling in me that just wanted to keep going and chasing all-stars and chasing World Series and chasing this contract. It's like in my head, yeah, I accomplished it. And I realized how much stress and anxiety and stuff it put on me and all these things that I'm like, whoa, do I really, really love doing this? And the answer was, I love aspects of it. I love the fans, the experience. It's fun to compete, but do I really just want to play baseball for my whole life? Do I want that to be my thing?"
Ty attempted a comeback during the 2022 season, but abandoned it at the end of 2024. He was excited to begin the next stage in his life and career.
In this conversation, Ty Buttrey shares his journey from being drafted by the Red Sox to his experiences in the major leagues with the Angels. He discusses the challenges he faced, including burnout and the pressures of maintaining success. Ty reflects on his decision to retire from baseball, explore new passions, and eventually return to the sport, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery and pursuing what truly matters in life. In this conversation, Ty Buttrey shares his journey from professional baseball to navigating life after sports. He discusses the challenges of transitioning careers, the importance of mental health, and the realities of pursuing dreams in a competitive environment. Ty also highlights his wife's success in the NIL space and their collaborative efforts in building a community around athlete branding and personal growth.
Ty Buttrey speaks of his wife's endeavor in the NIL space. Here is a link to her company, AthleteCon.