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.
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…
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.
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.
Tony Kemp wouldn’t have a major league job elsewhere.
I always extend stubs.
Somewhere, Drew Stubbs is reading this and wondering why he is out of the league.
Ditto Franklin.
He was electric in spring training – one of those guys that’s just fun to watch. Excited to see how he performs!
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.
Tip your veal. Try the wait staff.
I really just feel sorry for you.
As one of the two REAL A’s fans here I approve this massage.
Massage being one of the pre-reverse boycott game offerings in Lot D? (Or perhaps it’s reserved for the BART Bridge.)
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.
Fisher is the real culprit here. Oakland Athletics fans have always been there, they’ve just been treated poorly.
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…
Stop posting you little man.
It’s really just one guy with two screen names.
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
Care to explain? Have you had some interaction with him in the past to make you feel this way?
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?
he uses the “eyeball test”
As suspected, you have no evidence, proving you are nothing more a rumor-mill casual.
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!
See my comment about Butler that same energy is felt with Clarke
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…
As suspected, you have no evidence, just another rumor-mill casual.
He pimps everything like Ronnie Belliard, who thought he was Manny Ramirez. Guy can play but his ego could cut him short.
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
If he gets a walkoff hit, the broadcaster had better say “The Butler did it!”
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.
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.
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.
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-…
Cody Thomas is better right now for sure. Butler has a very high ceiling though
According to the A’s radio broadcast team, Butler is now the every day right fielder.