Lawrence

Butler

Butler gave the A’s the lead with a two-out RBI single in the third inning, then raced around to score on Max Muncy’s two-run double. He then crushed a first-pitch fastball from Roddery Munoz for a 354-foot (96.2 mph EV) three-run shot in the fourth inning that made it 9-1. Hopefully this is just the type of big game that the dynamic 25-year-old outfielder needed to get his bat going. Even with the three hits, he’s hitting just .235/.278/.412 with one homer, four RBI and zero swipes in his first 18 plate appearances.

It’s just a routine day off with a day game after a night game, but it will come with Chris Sale on the mound, which isn’t a terrible thing. Lawrence Butler will also get a day off, although his is a bit more platoon-based. Andy Ibanez will start at first base, and Austin Wynns will enter the lineup at catcher with Shea Langeliers moving to DH.

This wouldn’t be as notable if not for the fact that Butler also didn’t get the start Saturday, and he underwent offseason surgery to repair a partial tredion tear and debridement of chronic scar tissue in his knee. It’s feasible this is injury-related, but there’s no word as of yet. Brent Rooker is the right fielder for Sunday’s bout, with Shea Langeliers the designated hitter and Austin Wynns getting the start at catcher.

Butler has hit .228/.261/.397 with a 33% strikeout rate against lefties in his career, so it’s really easy to see how the A’s should manage his playing time, even if they’re not going to call him a platoon player right now. Butler says he feels back to normal after being limited throughout 2025, and he’s slated to make his first appearance in right field on Friday. Colby Thomas could start over him against lefties once the season starts.

Butler is in the final stages of rehab after an offseason surgery to repair a partial tendon tear and debridement of chronic scar tissue. He’ll go cheaper in drafts this year and still maintains plenty of power/speed upside entering his age-26 season, but we’d sure like to see him in spring training games before giving him a full endorsement as a post-hype sleeper. Zack Gelof will also miss the start of Cactus League action as he builds up his swing progression.

Butler underwent surgery earlier this month on his right knee to repair a partial tendon tear and debridement of chronic scar tissue. He also received a PRP injection into his left patellar tendon to address chronic tendonitis. The 25-year-old power/speed combo threat played through a patellar tendon strain in his right knee over the final two weeks of the regular season. It’s an encouraging update that the club anticipates he won’t have any restrictions at the outset of next spring.

A tear suffered last month was repaired, and the surgeon also cleaned up some scar tissue. Butler also received a PRP injection for his left patellar tendon to address chronic tendinitis, the A’s said. The release didn’t share a timetable for his recovery, instead stating that “Butler will rehab throughout the offseason in preparation for spring training 2026.”

Butler manged to played through a patellar tendon strain in his right knee during the final few weeks of the regular season. The 25-year-old power/speed fantasy source will undergo further evaluation to determine whether surgery will be required to address the issue. An update on his status and return timeline should come at some point in the next few weeks.

The A’s got their runs on a solo shot from Nick Kurtz in the fourth and Butler’s blast an inning later. It’s Butler’s 21st homer to go along with 21 steals. Kind of odd is that five of those homers have come with two men on. He has just one with one man on, even though he has more than twice as many at-bats in that situation.

Butler was also caught stealing once, but the three steals put him at 20 for the year, giving him a 20/20 season in his second full year in the majors. His .240/.313/.416 line is discouraging, especially in tandem with his strikeout rate jumping from 24% last year to 29% this season, but it’d seem to be a mistake to write him off next year, especially with the A’s having committed to him with a long-term deal.