Lawrence Butler Stats & Scouting Report

AB	412
AVG	.262
OBP	.317
SLG	.49
HR	22

Full name Lawrence Evan Butler
Born 07/10/2000 in Burlington, NJ
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Westlake
Drafted in the 6th round (173rd overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2018 (signed for $285,000).

View Draft Report

Butler is a powerful, 6-foot-4 outfielder who is young for the class and fairly raw at the plate. He brings plus raw power to the table, however, and has loose wrists with a solid feel to get the bat on the baseball. His pitch selection and timing at the plate is raw, and while Buter is playing center field now, he's like a corner outfielder in the future. He's an above-average runner with an athletic body that should allow him to continue adding more strength and power. A West Virginia commit, Butler is considered singable and many teams have had scouting directors and national cross-checkers in to see him this spring.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 50/High

Track Record: Butler was a toolsy developmental pick in the sixth round in 2018 with swing-and-miss issues early in his pro career. He returned from the 2020 shutdown as a revelation since and has steadily ascended. Butler hit .284/.350/.475 across 89 games in 2023 between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas before making his big league debut on Aug. 11, where he struggled to a .211/.240/.341 line and a 60 wRC+.

Scouting Report: Butler is a dynamic athlete. Originally drafted as a first baseman, he played almost exclusively in center field upon reaching Oakland in 2023. He’s a powerful hitter with a strong, loose swing that produces good launch angles. Butler again posted some of the best 90th percentile exit velocities of any Oakland minor leaguer. A historically selective hitter, Butler also made meaningful adjustments to his approach in the minors in an attempt to reach that power more consistently. He cut his miss rate by roughly 8% and also reduced his chase rate despite increasing his swing rate for the second consecutive year. There will likely always be swing-and-miss elements to his game--he especially struggled with quality breaking balls in 2023--but there’s a chance for fringe-average contact ability. Butler is a good runner who stole 21 bases in the minors. He covers enough ground to adequately play center field, but he needs to refine his routes to the ball. Most evaluators believe he’s ultimately better suited for a corner. Butler draws positive reviews for his clubhouse presence and magnetic personality.

The Future: It may take some time to fully click, but Butler has the upside of an everyday power-speed corner threat who could become a foundational piece as Oakland tries to emerge from its rebuild.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Oakland drafted Butler out of the Atlanta high school ranks in the sixth round in 2018, drawn to his plus raw power, loose swing and youth. He didn't turn 18 until about a month after the draft. Butler didn't do much damage in short-season leagues in 2018 or 2019 but emerged from the pandemic as one of Oakland's most-improved players, reaching High-A Lansing by the end of 2021. Butler returned to Lansing in 2022 and slashed .270/.357/.468 with 11 homers despite a slow start in April. He also missed six weeks with an arm injury. Oakland sent him to accumulate additional at-bats in the Arizona Fall League, where he flashed power and a discerning eye. The A's added him to their 40-man roster in November.

Scouting Report: Butler's raw power rivals anyone in Oakland's system and his hard-hit rate in games was above-average in 2022. He has made a considerable effort over the last two seasons to shorten his lofted swing and tighten his strike-zone recognition in an effort to let his power play more consistently in games. He's a selective hitter, sometimes overly passive, but he upped his swing rate in 2022. He still struck out 31.5% of the time with Lansing and will always have to manage his swing-and-miss, especially in the zone, but again paired it with a high walk rate, this time at 12%. Butler is a plus athlete and runner. He transitioned to primarily playing right field in 2022 after playing more first base early in his career, and he has experience at all three outfield positions. He covers plenty of ground at either corner outfield position, but his routes to the ball remain inconsistent.

The Future: Butler's patience and power provide a ceiling as an everyday regular in a corner if he can make enough contact. He's ready for the upper levels of the minors in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 40. Power: 60. Speed: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50
Track Record: Butler elevated his stock as much as any prospect in Oakland’s system in 2021. The A’s tabbed Butler as a developmental project out of high school and he struggled mightily with strikeouts in his first two professional seasons. That changed in 2021, when he broke out in his first taste of full-season ball, posting the second-best isolated power (.236) of any qualified hitter in Low-A West with Stockton. He ended the year hitting .340 in 14 games with High-A Lansing.

Scouting Report: Butler’s combination of power and speed is mesmerizing. His powerful, lofted swing produces 70-grade raw power with exit velocities maxing out north of 110 mph, putting him among the most powerful hitters in Oakland’s system. Like many long-levered young power hitters, Butler fights a tendency to lengthen his swing, leaving him susceptible to swings and misses. There are concerns about his 33% strikeout rate, but that represented an improvement compared to his pro debut. Butler isn’t a hacker—if anything, he can be overly deferential and his swing rates were among the lowest in Oakland’s system. He’s an instinctive, plus runner who stole nearly 30 bases in 2021 and spent time at all three outfield positions in addition to first base. Butler may be better suited for first base in the long run as he matures, but his athleticism gives him a shot to handle a corner outfield position. He also receives raves for his competitiveness and makeup.

The Future: A return to High-A Lansing is likely for Butler as he continues to prove he can make enough contact to allow his head-turning power to play.

Draft Prospects

Butler is a powerful, 6-foot-4 outfielder who is young for the class and fairly raw at the plate. He brings plus raw power to the table, however, and has loose wrists with a solid feel to get the bat on the baseball. His pitch selection and timing at the plate is raw, and while Buter is playing center field now, he's like a corner outfielder in the future. He's an above-average runner with an athletic body that should allow him to continue adding more strength and power. A West Virginia commit, Butler is considered singable and many teams have had scouting directors and national cross-checkers in to see him this spring.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Oakland drafted Butler out of the Atlanta high school ranks in the sixth round in 2018, drawn to his plus raw power, loose swing and youth. He didn't turn 18 until about a month after the draft. Butler didn't do much damage in short-season leagues in 2018 or 2019 but emerged from the pandemic as one of Oakland's most-improved players, reaching High-A Lansing by the end of 2021. Butler returned to Lansing in 2022 and slashed .270/.357/.468 with 11 homers despite a slow start in April. He also missed six weeks with an arm injury. Oakland sent him to accumulate additional at-bats in the Arizona Fall League, where he flashed power and a discerning eye. The A's added him to their 40-man roster in November.

Scouting Report: Butler's raw power rivals anyone in Oakland's system and his hard-hit rate in games was above-average in 2022. He has made a considerable effort over the last two seasons to shorten his lofted swing and tighten his strike-zone recognition in an effort to let his power play more consistently in games. He's a selective hitter, sometimes overly passive, but he upped his swing rate in 2022. He still struck out 31.5% of the time with Lansing and will always have to manage his swing-and-miss, especially in the zone, but again paired it with a high walk rate, this time at 12%. Butler is a plus athlete and runner. He transitioned to primarily playing right field in 2022 after playing more first base early in his career, and he has experience at all three outfield positions. He covers plenty of ground at either corner outfield position, but his routes to the ball remain inconsistent.

The Future: Butler's patience and power provide a ceiling as an everyday regular in a corner if he can make enough contact. He's ready for the upper levels of the minors in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 40. Power: 60. Speed: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Oakland drafted Butler out of the Atlanta high school ranks in the sixth round in 2018, drawn to his plus raw power, loose swing and youth. He didn't turn 18 until about a month after the draft. Butler didn't do much damage in short-season leagues in 2018 or 2019 but emerged from the pandemic as one of Oakland's most-improved players, reaching High-A Lansing by the end of 2021. Butler returned to Lansing in 2022 and slashed .270/.357/.468 with 11 homers despite a slow start in April. He also missed six weeks with an arm injury. Oakland sent him to accumulate additional at-bats in the Arizona Fall League, where he flashed power and a discerning eye. The A's added him to their 40-man roster in November.

Scouting Report: Butler's raw power rivals anyone in Oakland's system and his hard-hit rate in games was above-average in 2022. He has made a considerable effort over the last two seasons to shorten his lofted swing and tighten his strike-zone recognition in an effort to let his power play more consistently in games. He's a selective hitter, sometimes overly passive, but he upped his swing rate in 2022. He still struck out 31.5% of the time with Lansing and will always have to manage his swing-and-miss, especially in the zone, but again paired it with a high walk rate, this time at 12%. Butler is a plus athlete and runner. He transitioned to primarily playing right field in 2022 after playing more first base early in his career, and he has experience at all three outfield positions. He covers plenty of ground at either corner outfield position, but his routes to the ball remain inconsistent.

The Future: Butler's patience and power provide a ceiling as an everyday regular in a corner if he can make enough contact. He's ready for the upper levels of the minors in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 40. Power: 60. Speed: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50
BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Butler elevated his stock as much as any prospect in Oakland&#39s system in 2021. The A&#39s tabbed Butler as a developmental project out of high school and he struggled mightily with strikeouts in his first two professional seasons. That changed in 2021, when he broke out in his first taste of full-season ball, posting the second-best isolated power (.236) of any qualified hitter in Low-A West with Stockton. He ended the year hitting .340 in 14 games with High-A Lansing.

Scouting Report: Butler&#39s combination of power and speed is mesmerizing. His powerful, lofted swing produces 70-grade raw power with exit velocities maxing out north of 110 mph, putting him among the most powerful hitters in Oakland&#39s system. Like many long-levered young power hitters, Butler fights a tendency to lengthen his swing, leaving him susceptible to swings and misses. There are concerns about his 33% strikeout rate, but that represented an improvement compared to his pro debut. Butler isn&#39t a hacker—if anything, he can be overly deferential and his swing rates were among the lowest in Oakland&#39s system. He&#39s an instinctive, plus runner who stole nearly 30 bases in 2021 and spent time at all three outfield positions in addition to first base. Butler may be better suited for first base in the long run as he matures, but his athleticism gives him a shot to handle a corner outfield position. He also receives raves for his competitiveness and makeup.

The Future: A return to High-A Lansing is likely for Butler as he continues to prove he can make enough contact to allow his head-turning power to play.
Track Record: Butler elevated his stock as much as any prospect in Oakland’s system in 2021. The A’s tabbed Butler as a developmental project out of high school and he struggled mightily with strikeouts in his first two professional seasons. That changed in 2021, when he broke out in his first taste of full-season ball, posting the second-best isolated power (.236) of any qualified hitter in Low-A West with Stockton. He ended the year hitting .340 in 14 games with High-A Lansing.

Scouting Report: Butler’s combination of power and speed is mesmerizing. His powerful, lofted swing produces 70-grade raw power with exit velocities maxing out north of 110 mph, putting him among the most powerful hitters in Oakland’s system. Like many long-levered young power hitters, Butler fights a tendency to lengthen his swing, leaving him susceptible to swings and misses. There are concerns about his 33% strikeout rate, but that represented an improvement compared to his pro debut. Butler isn’t a hacker—if anything, he can be overly deferential and his swing rates were among the lowest in Oakland’s system. He’s an instinctive, plus runner who stole nearly 30 bases in 2021 and spent time at all three outfield positions in addition to first base. Butler may be better suited for first base in the long run as he matures, but his athleticism gives him a shot to handle a corner outfield position. He also receives raves for his competitiveness and makeup.

The Future: A return to High-A Lansing is likely for Butler as he continues to prove he can make enough contact to allow his head-turning power to play.
The A's took Butler as a long-term developmental project as a 17-year-old sixth-rounder in 2018, dreaming on his sizable power potential and projectable 6-foot-3 frame. That power has shown up this year in his first foray into full-season affiliated ball with Low-A Stockton and caught the attention of rival evaluators. Butler routinely reaches exit velocities of 105+ mph and his 10 homers through 57 games tied for seventh best in Low-A West alongside teammate Tyler Soderstrom. The question facing Butler is whether his hit tool will ever allow him to reach his power enough. There is ample swing-and-miss (34% strikeout rate) but Butler is a fairly selective hitter, posting one of the league's better walk rates (14.7%). He's a fringy left fielder right now and is likely destined to a first base profile, putting even more stress on the bat, but the power can't be ignored.