With the 2026 season underway a big topic of course is the low number of Black players at the Major Leagues. Still hovering around 6 percent, the numbers may not be where they once were but the Atlanta, Georgia area is certainly doing their part to represent.
“We’re just different. We love the game down there and have great coaches and mentors to teach us how to play the game,” the rising Athletics star told MLBbro.com in a recent interview.
Lawrence Butler, who broke out last season with 21 homers and 63RBI, cementing himself as a cornerstone of the franchise, tells MLBBro.com that he’s proud of the success of young Black players from his hometown at the highest level.
“It’s real competitive, we face a lot of good pitching, and we get after it down there” he spoke of how local area club ball prepared MLBbros such as Michael Harris, Jordan Walker and himself to play professional baseball. Andruw Jones was a favorite of Butler growing up and he knows how important it is for the youth of today to have someone to look up to.
“We do camps for the kids, it’s good for the kids to get out there and see our faces so they know we are trying to make a difference within their community” the outfielder spoke of the fun he has being in give back mode. “It’s great to be able to be there for them if they need anything from equipment to just wanting to have a conversation” Butler added.
Lawrence Butler Signs 7-year/$65M Extension In 2025
Butler will turn 26 years old in July and after signing a muti year extension in March of 2025, so his prime years will be spent in an Athletics uniform.
“This was the organization that drafted me and saw that I could be a big leaguer. I’m grateful they gave me the contract, and I can be here for a very long time and be a catalyst” Butler stated.
Butler was a sixth-round pick of the Athletics in the 2018 baseball draft and spent his first two professional seasons in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Covid cancelled the 2020 minor league baseball season, and it was the following campaign where Butler truly made use of his skill set.
He talked about the added confidence that he found in himself that year.
“2021 in A ball was the year I said to myself I’m gonna be a big leaguer. I always thought I could do it, but that year showed me I could do it if I put in the work”
Butler won a player of the week award in both the California League and the Midwest League that season with a combined .273 Batting Average, 19 Homeruns, and 75 RBI between that season.
“My Triple A (Las Vegas Aviators) manager Fran Riordan told me I was going to meet the team in Washington, and it was a dream come true. My dad was the first person I told” Butler shared his experience on being promoted to the then Oakland Athletics in August 2023.
Lawrence Butler Is One Of Rising Faces Of The Game
Butler worked this past off season as a correspondent for Major League Baseball and got to cover the 2025 World Series.
“It was pretty cool to ask those guys questions that we think about as baseball players. I would do it again” he smiled. I had a great time but hopefully someone will interview me in the fall classic as a player” he concluded with MLBbro. Butler has hit 43 bro bombs in the last two seasons and will look to continue to add power to the Athletics lineup.
