Billy Butler named 2012 Les Milgram Player of the Year

For the third time in his young career, Royals DH/1B Billy Butler won the Les Milgram Player of the Year Award, given annually to the team's player of the year by the Kansas City chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Butler was one of the few bright spots on a team that finished 72-90 this season. The 6'1 240 slugger hit .313/.373/.510 with 29 HR's and 107 RBI's in 2012, anchoring the middle of the Royals line-up.

He also made his first All-Star team, always a difficult task for a DH, since they are judged solely on their accomplishments with the bat.

The 26-year old Butler has now won three of the last four Milgram Awards, winning in 2009 and 2010 but losing to Alex Gordon in 2011.

The Royals, who have one of the deepest farm systems in baseball, expect to contend for a division title at some point in the next few years, and if they do, Butler will likely be one of the main reasons why.