The Rockies sent down starting pitcher Eddie Butler to Triple-A Albuquerque and called up first baseman Kyle Parker on Tuesday.

Butler, a 2012 first round draft pick, has a 3-6 record and a 4.80 ERA in 11 starts this year.  He had a particularly rough month of May where he went 1-4 with a 5.00 ERA. In his last start, he lost to the Marlins after working only 5.1 innings and giving up six runs on 11 hits.

Butler will be replaced by first baseman and outfielder Kyle Parker, who has been crushing the ball lately in Triple-A.  The 25 year old hit a solid .327 with four home runs and 17 RBI in May and has hit a spectacular .387 in eight games in June.

Parker will have a tough time getting playing time at first base.  Wilin Rosario and Ben Paulsen, who already share the position, have been hitting the ball well of late.  It is most likely that Parker will play in right field, joining the rotating cast of Carlos Gonzalez, Brandon Barnes, and Charlie Blackmon.

This will be Parker’s second stint in the majors with the Rockies.  He batted .192 in 18 games after being called up to the team last year.


Jordan Gillmore, an intern at Mile High Sports and a CU-Boulder student, contributed to this report