Lawrence Evan Butler (born July 10, 2000) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.
Career
Butler was born in Burlington, New Jersey. He attended Westlake High School in Atlanta, Georgia. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the sixth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft. Butler made his professional debut that year with the Arizona League Athletics. He played 2019 with the Vermont Lake Monsters.
Due to the cancellation of the 2020 Minor League Baseball season due to COVID-19, Butler did not play for a team. He returned in 2021 to play for the Stockton Ports and Lansing Lugnuts.
Butler was optioned to the Double-A Midland RockHounds to begin the 2023 season. In 89 games split between Midland and the Triple–A Las Vegas Aviators, he batted a cumulative .284/.350/.475 with 15 home runs, 70 RBI, and 21 stolen bases. On August 11, 2023, Butler was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.