Lawrence Butler - Page 18 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates | FOX Sports

Not starting versus lefty Butler is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Royals.

Impact Butler will not start with lefty Angel Zerpa on the mound for the Royals. Butler has appeared in every game since Aug. 11. Esteury Ruiz will shift to center field, Brent Rooker will play in right field with Jonah Bride being inserted into the lineup as the designated hitter to bat leadoff.

AUGUST 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup Butler will be on the bench for Saturday's game against Baltimore.

Impact The Athletics presumably want to see what Butler can do down the stretch as they think about building their roster for 2024 and beyond, but so far, they haven't been interested in seeing what he can do against same-sided pitching. He owns a .760 OPS through his first 25 big-league plate appearances but has sat against both lefties the A's have faced since his call-up, including Saturday's starter Cole Irvin. Esteury Ruiz will be the center fielder Saturday.

AUGUST 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Wednesday Butler is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

Impact For the first time since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas last weekend, Butler will head to the bench after he went 4-for-19 with a home run, two doubles, two RBI and an additional run in his first five big-league games. Butler should get the opportunity to play on a near-everyday basis moving forward now that Oakland has an opening in the outfield following JJ Bleday's (knee) recent move to the 10-day injured list.

AUGUST 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Launches first big-league home run Butler went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to St. Louis.

Impact The 23-year-old rookie took advantage of a hanging slider thrown by Dakota Hudson, sending it 437 feet to right field for a two-run bomb. Butler's first career long ball left his bat at an impressive 111 mph. Oakland's fifth-ranked prospect is now 4-for-19 (.211) with two doubles and a home run through his first five major-league games.

AUGUST 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Laces first two big-league hits Butler went 2-for-8 with two doubles -- his first two big-league hits -- over the two weekend games against the Nationals.

Impact Butler drew starts in each installment of the three-game interleague set against the Nationals and laced both of his first two big-league hits for extra bases. The promising prospect has now toiled at three professional levels this season and has encouragingly struck out just twice over his first 12 big-league plate appearances.

AUGUST 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hitless in big-league debut Butler, making his major-league debut, went 0-for-4 in a loss to the Nationals on Friday.

Impact The promising prospect, who started the season at Double-A Midland, completed his meteoric rise through the ranks by donning an Athletics uniform Friday. While Butler failed to reach safely in his first four plate appearances, he made contact on each occasion -- an extension of the sub-20.0 percent strikeout rates he posted in both minor-league stops this season -- and should have plenty of opportunity to acclimate to big-league arms for what remains of the 2023 campaign.

AUGUST 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Batting eighth in MLB debut Butler is starting in right field and batting eighth in his MLB debut Friday versus the Nationals.

Impact Butler was called up to the Athletics on Wednesday after delivering a .284/.350/.475 slash line with 15 homers, 70 RBI, 21 steals and 67 runs scored in 89 games this summer between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas. The 23-year-old outfielder should get regular playing time down the stretch as the A's look ahead to 2024 and beyond.

AUGUST 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Headed to majors The Athletics called Butler up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Impact Butler started the season with Double-A Midland before reaching Triple-A in mid-July, and he'll now get his first taste of major-league action Friday during Oakland's next series against the Nationals. The 23-year-old outfielder is slashing .281/.347/.473 through 412 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A this season with 15 homers, 70 RBI and 21 stolen bases. Butler provides an interesting power/speed combination that could earn him regular playing time on an Athletics team that seems motivated to get its top prospects some reps in the majors to close out what has been a rough season.

AUGUST 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

A's set to promote No. 7 prospect Butler (source) OAKLAND -- The A’s kicked off a youth movement following the All-Star break by calling up their top two position player prospects in Tyler S...

AUGUST 10, 2023 • MLB.COM

Solid start in Vegas Butler, who was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, is 5-for-19 with a double, a home run, six RBI, a walk, three steals and three runs across his first four games with the A...

Impact The promising 23-year-old has struck out just once in 20 plate appearances as well, certainly an encouraging early sign against a higher caliber of arms and following a significant improvement in his contact rates during a 318-plate-appearance sample at Double-A Midland. Butler's intriguing mix of power and speed has earned him a brisk climb up the organizational ladder thus far, and a strong finish down the stretch of the minor-league season would almost certainly lead to Butler's first opportunity in the majors in 2024.

JULY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Getting it done at Double-A Butler owns a .273/.344/.454 slash line with 24 extra-base hits and 38 RBI across 256 plate appearances with Double-A Midland this season.

Impact The red-hot prospect also has 10 stolen bases, 25 walks, 42 runs, and perhaps just as encouraging, a 19.1 percent strikeout rate that's by far the lowest of any of his minor-league stops. After mustering just a .195 average and .601 OPS over 101 games in Rookie ball to open his professional career, Butler has taken off offensively and now appears to have significantly improved his ability to make consistent contact. Having apparently closed that one hole -- at least against Double-A arms -- in his otherwise impressive profile, Butler appears to be closing in on a bump up to Triple-A Las Vegas.

JUNE 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to Double-A The Athletics optioned Butler to Double-A Midland on Sunday.

Impact Butler made waves in spring training by producing a 1.625 OPS and drawing four walks while striking out just three times in 11 games, but since the 22-year-old has never played above the High-A level, he never was viewed as a likely candidate to break camp with the big club. He'll at least be rewarded for his excellent spring with his first taste of the Double-A level.

MARCH 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Q&A: No. 11 prospect Butler talks childhood, Michael Harris, 'New Oakland' MESA, Ariz. -- Between his fun personality and energetic display on the field, Lawrence Butler has been without question the most interestin...

MARCH 12, 2023 • MLB.COM

Standing out in spring Butler is hitting .571 (8-for-14) with three doubles, a triple, a home run, seven RBI, three walks, two stolen bases and four runs across eight Cactus League games.

Impact Butler has yet to play above the High-A level, but his numbers against big-league arms thus far this spring underscore his impressive all-around skill set. The 22-year-old generated a solid .270 average and .825 OPS in 2022 at High-A Lansing, and Martin Gallegos of MLB.com notes Butler's body of work this spring makes it highly likely he'll start the season at Double-A Midland and possibly make his big-league debut before the end of the 2023 campaign.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE