There’s no better player to kick off our final week of 2024 player reviews than the one and only Lawrence Butler. No other player has changed the trajectory of the franchise more than the blossoming Athletics’ right fielder. On an upward trajectory that’s yet to find its ceiling, Law is clearly the player whose shoulders will carry the franchise for years to come.
How was he acquired?
The A’s drafted Butler in the 6th round of the 2018 draft at the young age of 17. Not highly heralded or polished, the organization bet that his raw athleticism and makeup would get him to the majors.
What were the expectations?
After two years of putting up rough numbers in the lower minors and a year off due to the pandemic, Butler came back with a vengeance in 2021 and put him firmly on the prospect map, hitting a strong .273/.367/.504 while popping 19 home runs at Low-A and High-A. As he moved his way up the organizational ladder, he continued to not only perform but also improve in key aspects.
On top of becoming a better defender on the grass, putting to bed questions about a move to first base, Law cut his strikeout rate from 40.7% at Low-A to less than half that at 19.1% during his time at Triple-A in 2023, all while maintaining his raw power and stealing 21 of 23 bases. He earned his major league debut later that season, which didn’t go as well as everyone hoped. As veteran pitches searched for his holes at the plate, Law couldn’t stay back, walking in a mere 3.1% of his player appearances while not doing much damage with his swings. It was clear from his experience that he’d need more time to learn and tinker before he was ready to fully arrive.
2024 Results
Going into 2024, the A’s didn’t lose much faith in Butler, giving him the opportunity to solidify himself as the starting right fielder in their last season in Oakland. However, after a poor first couple of months, the team sent him back down to Las Vegas to continue refining his approach.
Law came back in June but didn’t fully take off until July. For the month, he hit an insane .363/.408/.802 while hammering 10 homeruns in just 22 games, even winning his first of two AL Player of the Week awards. Alongside a dominating Brent Rooker, the pair began to look like a legitimate bash-brother-esque combo in the middle of the lineup. Though he cooled off from that blazing hot breakout, Butler continued to solidify himself as a budding star not just in Oakland but in the league as a whole, putting up a .262/.317/.490 slash line that was 30% better than league average. With an exciting combination of talent and on-field personality, the 24-year-old represents hope for a very hope-hungry franchise.
2025 Outlook
The sky is the limit for Law. Not only because we’ve seen him on heaters for weeks at a time, but also because he’s never stayed stagnant. Every year he’s been a professional baseball player, he’s made significant improvements in his game. Still incredibly young, he has plenty of time to get wherever he’s meant to go. I’m not necessarily betting that he’ll be an MVP candidate or even an All-Star in 2025 — that’s just typically not how this works. His numbers may take a step back, or they may take just a tiny step forward. Regardless, he’s earned my confidence that he’ll be better in some way every day he steps on the field. He’s already my favorite A’s player from the last five years. It’s time for him to become the best.
