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A’s To Promote Lawrence Butler For MLB Debut

By Anthony Franco | August 11, 2023 at 1:30pm CDT

August 11: The A’s have now officially recalled Butler, with Kemp moved to the paternity list in the anticipated corresponding move.

August 9: The Athletics are recalling outfield prospect Lawrence Butler, reports Martín Gallegos of MLB.com (Twitter links). It’s his first big league promotion. Butler was added to the 40-man roster over the offseason, so the club will only need to make a corresponding active roster move. That figures to be the placement of Tony Kemp on the paternity list, as Gallegos notes the veteran utility player is headed to Nashville for the birth of his second child.

Butler, 23, was a sixth-round draftee out of an Atlanta high school five years ago. It was an upside play on a 6’3″ outfielder with significant power potential. He started slowly in his pro career but had a breakout showing in Low-A coming out of the canceled season. Butler continued to perform well in High-A last season, leading the A’s to select his contract to ensure they wouldn’t lose him in the Rule 5 draft.

He has spent the majority of this season at Double-A Midland. The lefty-swinging Butler hit .285/.352/.465 with 10 homers, 13 steals and a solid 18.9% strikeout percentage in 318 plate appearances. He was tabbed to participate in this summer’s Futures Game and bumped to Triple-A Las Vegas thereafter. Butler has hit .281/.340/.512 in 22 games since getting moved to the top minor league level.

The Oakland front office was sufficiently pleased with those results to give him his first big league call. Whether the A’s are simply giving Butler a cup of coffee in Kemp’s absence or plan to afford him regular run from here on out remains to be seen.  He has experience at all three outfield spots but is generally viewed as best suited for the corner outfield or first base. With Esteury Ruiz back to man center field, Butler seems likely to mix into the corners alongside Seth Brown, Brent Rooker and JJ Bleday.

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Oakland Athletics Lawrence Butler

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36 Comments

  1. julyn82001

    2 years ago

    Good. A’s need to see Butler’s potential. Kemp is a stub and Oakland should extend him. It’s an example to the youngsters…

    Reply
    • Philly A's

      2 years ago

      Kemp is more important to this team in veteran leadership. He provides a lot to these young players(a’s have a few). I saw a that he took a few rookies at the beginning of the season and paid for suits for travel.

      Class act all the way. Congratulations on the birth or your second child.

      On another note, excited Butler is getting his shot.

      12
      Reply
      • acoss13

        2 years ago

        That’s very nice of Kemp. Probably one of the few positive things going for that team so yeah they need him around to lighten the mood as the Athletics try their best to reach 120 losses.

        1
        Reply
    • Reynaldo

      2 years ago

      Tony Kemp wouldn’t have a major league job elsewhere.

      Reply
  2. Non Roster Invitee

    2 years ago

    I always extend stubs.

    6
    Reply
    • louwhitakerisahofer

      2 years ago

      Somewhere, Drew Stubbs is reading this and wondering why he is out of the league.

      8
      Reply
      • Non Roster Invitee

        2 years ago

        Ditto Franklin.

        2
        Reply
  3. Waldo29

    2 years ago

    He was electric in spring training – one of those guys that’s just fun to watch. Excited to see how he performs!

    5
    Reply
  4. statman

    2 years ago

    Oh my goodness, the excitement continues to spew forth out of oakland!!! I’ll bet a’s fans everywhere (both of them) will be excited to come to the ballpark to watch him play until he shows enough talent to get traded to save them some money.

    1
    Reply
    • AfterBobo

      2 years ago

      Tip your veal. Try the wait staff.

      2
      Reply
    • Get Off My Mound

      2 years ago

      I really just feel sorry for you.

      2
      Reply
      • BleedGreen

        2 years ago

        As one of the two REAL A’s fans here I approve this massage.

        Reply
        • AfterBobo

          2 years ago

          Massage being one of the pre-reverse boycott game offerings in Lot D? (Or perhaps it’s reserved for the BART Bridge.)

          Reply
    • GangGreen23

      2 years ago

      He eagerly awaits every A’s article so that he can Post his usual “ both of the A’s fans must excited “ response.

      He attacks A’s fans but not the Owner that is responsible for turning off A’s fans. His criticism is pointed in the wrong direction.

      10
      Reply
    • acoss13

      2 years ago

      Fisher is the real culprit here. Oakland Athletics fans have always been there, they’ve just been treated poorly.

      7
      Reply
    • sacball

      2 years ago

      You sit around and wait for A’s posts to make your same punchline…never posting on any other threads, you truly are a sad sad individual…

      9
      Reply
    • passed_balls

      2 years ago

      Stop posting you little man.

      Reply
    • Not a clever name

      2 years ago

      It’s really just one guy with two screen names.

      Reply
  5. PigpenSaint

    2 years ago

    I don’t wish any negativity on guys, but when dudes think they have already made it and can’t be bothered by fans. It’s rubs me the wrong way. Not in any way indicating I or anyone else is entitled to anything. But man, there is zero harm in showing appreciation for fans and this guy ain’t it

    Reply
    • kevnames42

      2 years ago

      Care to explain? Have you had some interaction with him in the past to make you feel this way?

      1
      Reply
    • Get Off My Mound

      2 years ago

      Where is your source/evidence to show this? Or are you one of those guys who just says something with no explanation as if thats enough for everyone to believe it?

      5
      Reply
      • sacball

        2 years ago

        he uses the “eyeball test”

        1
        Reply
    • Get Off My Mound

      2 years ago

      As suspected, you have no evidence, proving you are nothing more a rumor-mill casual.

      2
      Reply
  6. NineChampionships

    2 years ago

    Butler is a stud but I’m probably more hyped to see Denzel Clarke make his debut whenever that happens. Tarnok, Medina, Soderstrom, J. Diaz, Gelof, and now Butler. Hopefully Mason Miller comes back healthy in a couple weeks!

    3
    Reply
    • PigpenSaint

      2 years ago

      See my comment about Butler that same energy is felt with Clarke

      1
      Reply
      • Get Off My Mound

        2 years ago

        Where is your evidence or explanation as to why this is? You seem to have intimate knowledge of how players act in a minor league clubhouse without giving any context or insight…

        1
        Reply
      • Get Off My Mound

        2 years ago

        As suspected, you have no evidence, just another rumor-mill casual.

        1
        Reply
  7. spooky

    2 years ago

    He pimps everything like Ronnie Belliard, who thought he was Manny Ramirez. Guy can play but his ego could cut him short.

    Reply
    • SDMadres

      2 years ago

      Saw Butler in a handful of games for the Las Vegas Aviators. His offense is light years ahead of his unpolished defense. Takes odd routes on balls, cathes the ball behind him with no momentum on sac fly opportunities for ther team. Makes up for a lot of his short comings with raw athleticism.
      Exciting player nonetheless

      1
      Reply
  8. AHH-Rox

    2 years ago

    If he gets a walkoff hit, the broadcaster had better say “The Butler did it!”

    2
    Reply
  9. Don T

    2 years ago

    I’ve been excited about Butler for some time. He has amazing potential and the A’s can really use his bat. If the A’s management has a plan to make the team competitive, it’s guys like Butler that could make it happen.

    2
    Reply
    • C Yards Jeff

      2 years ago

      Would not have read this story if not for his thumbnail photo. What is that? Where is that? Is it a location anywhere close to a ballfield? Is that even an A’s uniform? Oddly peculiar. Yes? Gotta good feeling about this young fella. Glad to read up on him. Thanks.

      Reply
  10. luca brasi

    2 years ago

    Are Cody, Thomas and Jonah bride, better baseball players than Lawrence Butler? No. Butler is here to stay. I saw Claudell Washington play many times. Butler reminds me of him.

    3
    Reply
    • Chicken In Philly?

      2 years ago

      As a 9-year-old Red Sox fan living in CT, my Yankee-loving uncle made me stay until the very last pitch of this game: nytimes.com/1988/09/12/sports/yanks-defeat-tigers-…

      Reply
    • SDMadres

      2 years ago

      Cody Thomas is better right now for sure. Butler has a very high ceiling though

      Reply
      • luca brasi

        2 years ago

        According to the A’s radio broadcast team, Butler is now the every day right fielder.

        Reply

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