WEST SACRAMENTO -- One day after thrilling the many Little Leaguers in attendance at Sutter Health Park by becoming the first Athletics player to hit an inside-the-park home run and over-the-fence homer in the same game since 1975, Lawrence Butler returned the favor and watched them go to work.
The A’s partnered with US Sports Camps and Nike RBI to host the first-ever Athletics Nike RBI Baseball Camp in Sacramento, and stopping by ahead of their 9-2 loss to the Braves on Wednesday was Butler, who interacted with starstruck kids from West Sacramento Little League by taking pictures and participating in a Q&A.
"It was pretty cool,” Butler said. “Some of them actually came to the game [Tuesday] night. I know it’s a pretty cool feeling to go to a big league game, see a big leaguer, then get to meet them the next day. I was having conversations with them.”
The free camp -- a three-day event from July 8-10 -- took place at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento and featured a baseball clinic, giveaways and will culminate with a special night for the attendees at Sutter Health Park for Thursday’s series finale against the Braves, which also happens to be Butler’s 25th birthday and his bobblehead giveaway.
Even as he ascends in the game as a budding star who signed a life-changing seven-year, $65.5 million contract extension earlier this year, the importance of making himself an accessible role model for the next generation is not lost on Butler, whether it be in West Sacramento or his hometown of Atlanta, where he was once in their shoes as a young ballplayer idolizing Braves players like Jason Heyward and Justin Upton while strolling the fields of Sandtown Park.
"It’s big for just growing the game,” Butler said. “You never know. That kid might be on his way out of wanting to play baseball. Then, he meets you and you make his day, and now he plays it forever. Maybe he even ends up becoming a big leaguer. You never know. One little conversation or just a gesture could change a kid’s life and what they want to be when they grow up.”
Butler quickly bonded with the group of kids, who sang him happy birthday at one point after finding out Thursday was his birthday. They talked about everything, from baseball to video games.
"I’m a kid, too,” the 24-year-old Butler said. “So, I was just talking to them about video games and stuff like that. … One of them told me to write 'Chicken Jockey' on their hat. He said it was from the 'Minecraft' movie. I haven’t seen it yet. I’m going to have to go see what chicken jockey is. They told me to write it on their hats.”
Even before his increased Major League spotlight, Butler has always taken an interest in helping kids. As a Minor Leaguer in the A’s system, he hosted toy drives every winter back home in Southwest Atlanta. Now that his profile is raising, that type of activity will only continue to grow.
"I’m going to forever always give back to the youth and just to stuff with the kids,” Butler said. “I enjoy it just as much as they do. I feel like I’ll probably never get tired of just giving back and doing stuff with the kids. Just seeing the smiles on those kids’ faces is cool.”