PT TOMORROW: AL West—Locked and loaded in OAK

Oakland Athletics

Following a sluggish start, Ramón Laureano (OF, OAK) has seemingly put to rest any question as to who owns center field. On May 7, Laureano was sitting on a .216 BA through 125 AB, after which he's soared to a .318 mark over 242 AB—a healthy bounce that has included 17 HR and 9 SB. Obviously a h% bumping up against 40% suggests that some regression is around the corner—and how much of this surge is a small sample blip vs. legit development uptick in light of meh plate skills, only time will tell. But Laureano produced a 40% h% in 2018 when he batted .288 in 156 AB, and both his speed and running game (12/2 SB/CS) are legit. He's hitting more fly balls, and now a 112 xPX looks healthier than it did at the end of 2018....

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