Law Butler’s 2025 Season: Flashes, Frustrations, and the Road Ahead

Law Butler is one of those players who doesn’t just show up on the field – he arrives. There’s a presence to him.

Charisma, energy, emotion – it all pours out when he plays. And after signing a seven-year, $65.5 million extension that’ll keep him in Oakland through 2032, the A’s clearly believe in the talent.

But 2025? It was a rollercoaster.

Not a disaster, not a breakout. Just a year that left fans and Butler alike wanting more.

The Backstory

Butler’s journey to the big leagues started back in 2018, when the A’s grabbed him in the sixth round out of Westlake High School in Atlanta. The early minor league years weren’t smooth – he had to grind through some tough seasons before finding his footing.

But once he did, the climb was steady. By 2023, he got his first taste of the majors.

In 2024, he turned heads with a red-hot second half, flashing the kind of tools that make scouts lean forward in their seats.

That second-half surge – highlighted by a .300/.345/.553 line – helped secure the long-term deal. Expectations for 2025?

Through the roof. Butler was dreaming of an All-Star nod – and not just any All-Star Game, but one hosted in his hometown.

It was a narrative tailor-made for a breakout. But baseball doesn’t always follow the script.

What Went Right

Let’s start with the defense, because there was progress. Butler’s rookie season in right field came with some growing pains – he posted a -1 DRS and -1 OAA.

In 2025, those numbers improved to +2 DRS and +3 OAA. It wasn’t gold glove territory, but it was a tangible step forward.

He was also asked to slide over to center field late in the season when Denzel Clarke went down. That’s no small ask, especially in a pitcher-friendly park like Oakland’s.

Butler had his moments – a few highlight-reel catches that showed off his athleticism – but he also had some misreads and inconsistent routes. Still, the willingness to take on that role says something about his value and versatility.

What Went Wrong

At the plate, though, things didn’t click. Butler struggled to find a rhythm, and it showed in the numbers: a .234/.306/.404 slash line, good for a 96 wRC+. That’s below league average, and a step back from the promise he showed the year before.

The biggest red flag? His performance against left-handed pitching.

Butler hit just .188 with a .228 OBP and .342 slugging against southpaws – a 52 wRC+ mark that came with a sky-high 39.8% strikeout rate. That’s not just a cold stretch – that’s a vulnerability.

There were still flashes of the player we saw in 2024. He’d string together a hot week or two, lace a few doubles, maybe launch one into the seats.

But the consistency wasn’t there. And as the season dragged on, the frustration seemed to build.

Butler wears his emotions openly – sometimes to his benefit, sometimes not. Teammates and coaches love the fire, but there were stretches this year where he looked deflated, even disengaged.

For a clubhouse leader, that’s a tough look.

The Big Picture

Despite the offensive struggles, Butler still managed to post 2.0 WAR – a reminder that even in a down year, he brings value. Defense, athleticism, leadership – those things matter, especially on a young team still trying to find its identity.

But make no mistake, 2026 is a big year for Butler. He’s now the face of the rebuild – a player the A’s have committed to long-term, both financially and symbolically. And he’s shown both ends of the spectrum: the high-upside version that looked like a future star in 2024, and the more uneven version we saw this past season.

Which version shows up in 2026? That might tell us a lot about where the A’s are headed.

The tools are still there. The work ethic?

Never in question. If Butler can settle in mentally, trust his approach, and make some adjustments – especially against lefties – there’s no reason he can’t bounce back in a big way.

And if he does, the A’s might just have their cornerstone right fielder for the long haul.

All eyes on Law.