Athletics’ Lawrence Butler Basks in MLB Success After Early Struggles – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Lawrence Butler is the man at Athletics right now.

Since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on June 18, the 24-year-old outfielder has been on a roll for Oakland, hitting .412 in July after starting the month under the Mendoza line.

Butler now has a .257 batting average this season and his name is seriously hyped for AL Player of the Month. He’s enjoying the moment and reflecting on the work that got him here.

“You know, it’s just kind of crazy to see myself grow from my first big league game to (almost) a full year in the big leagues,” Butler told NBC Sports California on Friday. “So, it’s pretty cool. I’m excited about it and I finally got some service time under my belt; the veterans can kind of leave me alone. But yeah, it’s pretty cool.”

It was difficult for the right hand to earn military service time.

After being selected 173rd overall in the 2018 draft, Butler made his MLB debut on August 11, hitting just .211/.240/.341 in his first 42 games.

Getting on base and staying on the team at the highest level was a challenge for Butler, but a strong spring earned him his first spot on Oakland’s Opening Day roster for 2024.

However, his problems continued, resulting in a demotion back to Triple-A Las Vegas on May 14.

This summer, however, was a season of application. Everything has changed for Butler since he was recalled, almost a month after getting the big break.

“It’s all about trusting the process,” Butler said. “Baseball is full of ups and downs. Just because you’re struggling, you can’t dwell on it (or) let it consume you. You just have to take it one day at a time and look at each day as, ‘This could be the start of a crazy run,’ like I’m doing right now.

“Every day I come to the stadium with the certainty and the preparation to work, knowing that it will be a good service.”

Butler has made every game count since then.

In July, the right-handed hitter posted an on-base percentage of .467, with 28 hits, 26 RBI, nine home runs, three stolen bases and 17 extra-base hits.

For Butler, his recent moves mean everything. Seeing the positive feedback and hype on his social media feeds is also an otherworldly experience. But both aspects of his life serve as reminders of the people who helped him get to this point, especially after some dark times.

“It’s surreal,” Butler said of his newfound praise. “It’s a dream come true. It’s an accomplishment. You dream as a kid (about) winning the World Series and just being able to perform in the league. It’s a feeling I’ll probably never get.

“Everybody — staff, family, friends — everybody always talked to me and had great things to say about me. (They) held my head up, tried to keep me confident. I really appreciate all of them. Everybody has come by, talked to me, said things about me, even when I was down. So I appreciate all of them for that.”

Oakland, too, is scorching. The A’s 18-3 road win over the Philadelphia Phillies before the 2024 MLB All-Star break snapped a 6-2 streak, and Oakland’s offense led in nearly every offensive category in baseball in July.

Butler credited his teammates, along with himself, for the A’s recent success. But he also made it clear that Oakland finally sees itself coming together as a whole, specifically as a rebuilding team rooted in youth and projects.

“I know I’m playing pretty good too, but you’ve got Brent Rooker out there raking it (and) Max Schumann, (as well),” Butler explained. “The whole team is just getting it together right now. Pitching’s been good and our defense’s been good.

“I feel like this is the turning point into the rebuilding phase. You have a couple of years where things might not go so well. But eventually, the guys you trust will come together and make it work. It’s all about trusting the process.”

Butler is feeling good, as are the A’s.

While there is still a lot of baseball to be played, Oakland is gaining momentum as it heads into the July 30 transfer deadline, when key decisions will undoubtedly be made.

No one knows how GM David Forst and the A’s will approach trade season. Butler is certainly proving himself to be someone Oakland should build around for years to come.