5 years agoOakland Athletics outfielder Ramon Laureano showed the potential to be a five-category contributor in his 2018 preview and supported it further in 2019. The 25-year-old hit .288 with 24 home runs, 79 runs scored, 67 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 481 plate appearances; he missed all of August with a shin injury. His ability to hit the ball harder than league average (40% hard-hit rate), combined with an adjustment to his swing (a launch angle increase from 10.3 degrees to 14.8 degrees) allowed for Laureano to hit for good power (home run-to-fly ball rate increased from 14.7% to 19.2%, slugging percentage increased from .474 to .521). His batting average also benefitted from his top-end speed (.342 BABIP). Further, his expected batting average (70th percentile), expected weighted on-base average (61st percentile), and expected slugging percentage (72nd percentile) were all well above league average in just his second season in the big leagues. Laureano is currently being drafted at an average position of pick 82, ahead of outfielders such as Jeff McNeil, Eddie Rosario, and Nicholas Castellanos. It appears that fantasy players are reaching on the upside he has shown, and while the aforementioned outfielders have a longer track record of consistency, it would not be surprising to see Laureano continue to grow as a big-leaguer and contribute just as much as some of them, if not more this fantasy season.--Connelly Doan - RotoBaller