Butler makes favorable first impression in big league debut

WASHINGTON -- Another of the Oakland A’s top prospects made his Major League debut Friday night, against the Nationals at Nationals Park.

Even though he was not able to record a base hit in his first big league game, right fielder Lawrence Butler looked the part and cherished this first appearance.

"That's a special moment because as a kid you dream of this moment for your whole life,” Butler said. “This is what you're working towards. For this to come to fruition is kind of crazy."

The 23-year-old earned his Major League promotion off quality numbers at Double-A and Triple-A this season, hitting .284 with 15 homers, 70 RBIs and 21 stolen bases over 89 Minor League games.

In the A’s 8-2 series-opening loss to the Nats, Butler went 0-for-4, but he made solid contact with a flyout on the sixth pitch of his first big league at-bat and reached base in the ninth using his speed down the line on a fielder’s choice.

"I'd say the first at-bat was probably the most butterflies,” Butler said. “But I was comfortable enough. I feel like I had a good at-bat, [I] took some good pitches. [Nationals starter Joan Adon] threw me a pretty good pitch, tried to foul it off, ended up popping it to left field, but that's baseball."

"The kid for his first time in the box, he took some good at-bats, took some good swings,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “[He] hit the ball hard on the ground. The effort level in the ninth inning, a ground ball to first base when he beats it out because it's kicked. That's what we are looking for out of our guys, to keep grinding and to keep competing."

Rookie Zack Gelof understands how Butler felt. Gelof made his debut less than a month ago on July 14, going 1-for-4 with a double and RBI against the Twins.

In the eighth inning Friday night, the second-round selection in the 2021 MLB Draft laced his seventh double of the season to right-center field.

"I feel like it's nice for me to go through it and have an understanding of what he's going through right now,” Gelof said. “It tends to speed up a little bit, but I think if you ultimately know it's the same game and you just have fun doing it, you are going to start to adjust. He knows how to play the game and I think he's just going to be himself, which is all he needs to be."

Kotsay eyed Butler’s progression in the Arizona Fall League and during Spring Training, and liked the improvements. With veteran Tony Kemp moving to the paternity list, Butler got his shot.

"We talked about all things that would help him get here,” Kotsay said. “That being the weight room, the recovery process, the discipline in the offseason, the guys you work out with. He took it to heart and it paid off. He's here today. It's an exciting day not just for himself but for the ballclub as well."

Butler, at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, played football, basketball and baseball in high school. As he went from season to season, he fell more in love with picking up a bat and glove and heading for the diamond.

"I always had those dreams,” Butler said of playing professional sports. “I played all three sports, but for some reason baseball just kind of stuck with me the most. Ever since I was a little kid I always wanted to be a big leaguer."

Kotsay says Butler demonstrated to him in the last year the ability to work quality at-bats and hustle for outs in right field.

"The progress he has made, the plate discipline, he's shrunk his strikeout rate, his walk rate has increased,” Kotsay said. “His two-strike approach now is a lot better than what it was as a young player. He realizes the need for those adjustments.

"Defensively, he comes as advertised. He can go get it in right field. He could possibly play center field. He has good arm strength.”