Lawrence Butler set to participate in AFL All Star Game

Lawrence Butler is having a breakout showing in the Arizona Fall League.

The Oakland A’s prospect had been sent to Arizona to make up for lost time after missing two months of the 2022 campaign due to an arm injury. He had gotten off to a hot start in the AFL, showing improved plate discipline to go along with the power and speed that had made him such an intriguing prospect in the A’s system.

Lawrence Butler gets his due in Arizona Fall League

While he was unable to continue that torrid pace, Butler still showed the type of progress that the A’s wanted to see. His strong showing was capped off as he was named to the AFL All Star Game, joining J,T, Ginn and Mason Miller on the squad, although the A’s pitchers will not be participating in the contest.

Butler has continued to be an on base machine even if his batting average tailed off. He has posted a .244/.400/.512 batting line in his 52 plate appearances, hitting two homers and three doubles while stealing four bases. Perhaps the most encouraging sign is that he has drawn 12 walks while striking out just 12 times, Considering that Butler had struck out 109 times in 342 regular season plate appearances, the A’s were certainly hoping he could cut that number back.

Now it is a matter of continuing this progress into 2023. Butler could start the next season in Double-A, truly testing his prospect mettle. If those improvements can translate at Double-A and he continues to flash those all around tools on offense, Butler could move up the rankings,

Lawrence Butler’s ascension may be starting to take place. If he is ready to move up the Oakland A’s prospect list, that journey began in the AFL.