Ty Buttrey: I 'lost the drive' to continue career

Ty Buttrey is walking away from baseball. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Angels reliever Ty Buttrey says he 'lost the drive' to continue MLB career

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 4/3/21

Los Angeles Angels reliever Ty Buttrey is walking away from Major League Baseball.

The 28-year-old released a statement Saturday saying he has accomplished what he wanted, and it's time to work toward something else, adding that his motivation was to prove the skeptics in his life wrong and make the big leagues.

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Buttrey declined his assignment to the Angels' alternate site this week and was placed on the restricted list.

The North Carolina native seemed to be a lock as one of L.A.'s key relievers, but he has struggled since the middle of the 2019 campaign and showed trouble commanding his fastball during spring training this year, resulting in his demotion.

Buttrey spent three seasons with the Angels and, at times, was their best reliever. He finishes his career with an 8-11 record, 4.30 ERA, 1.296 WHIP and 122 strikeouts in 115 innings.

The Boston Red Sox initially selected Buttrey in the fourth round of the 2012 draft.

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