6:48pm: Laureano will miss at least four weeks, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The club recalled Martini to take his spot.
1:26am: Athletics center fielder Ramon Laureano is heading to the injured list with a stress reaction in his shin, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports (Twitter links). Laureano will miss more than 10 days, but there isn’t an exact timetable for his return, according to manager Bob Melvin.
An extended absence for Laureano would be an unwelcome development for the Athletics, who have seen the 25-year-old blossom into a premier center fielder since he debuted last season. Laureano, whom the A’s acquired from the division-rival Astros a few months before the 2018 campaign began, has already posted 5.2 fWAR in 595 major league plate appearances.
He’s known as “Lazor Ramon” for his rocket arm in center, but most of Laureano’s value has come from his offense. He has totaled 3.1 fWAR through 419 PA this season on the strength of a .284/.334/.518 line (good for a 123 wRC+) with 21 home runs and 12 steals in 14 attempts. That’s not the type of production the playoff-contending A’s will be able to replace, especially considering Laureano has been almost their exclusive choice in center this season. Mark Canha, another underrated Athletic, has filled in for Laureano on rare off nights and looks likely to do so during his IL stint.
Oakland’s now down two regular outfielders – Stephen Piscotty has been on the IL with a knee injury for a month – leaving it with Canha, Robbie Grossman, Chad Pinder and DH Khris Davis as its top 25-man choices. The club also has a pair of healthy 40-man options in Dustin Fowler and Nick Martini at the Triple-A level. One of those two could come up to fill Laureano’s roster spot.
Skye Bolt is on the IL with an injured wrist
So he is. Thanks, Patrick.
I was incorrect. Injured, but not on the IL. “Day to day” with thumb, not wrist
Piscotty has played 3 games in a row in AAA and looks to be close to returning.
And Sean Murphy might be headed there too
Thank you Johnny Superscout
Murphy limped off the field last night after reaggravating his knee injury that kept him out all year after hitting a double, genius. Why not actually look something up before talking?
The “there” I was referring to was the IL I referred to in my previous post. Sorry for the confusion.
Should the A’s consider moving him to RF? I mean he obviously has an amazing arm but it seems to be a waste if he’s putting up negative numbers defensively in CF. Granted he’s still been average or so in CF it just seems like with his arm he should be able to provide a significant surplus of value somewhere on the diamond and if CF isn’t it – why not try his luck at a corner?
His first step and initial reads seem to be not so good the rest is pretty decent. I think he is a work in progress for CF since he played the corners more in the minors. I would try Mateo and his 80 speed in center and move Ramon to left.
Ramon’s arm is wasted in left, that arm would need to be in RF if it wasn’t in CF.
We will alert Billy Beane
You’re pretty good at being snarky, Not so good at adding anything meaningful.
I’m keeping Ramon in center. Regardless of his few mistakes, that laser belongs in CF.
No one said anything about negative numbers in centerfield… Where are you guys getting this from? Have you seen him actually play?
He takes bad routes but hasnt played 162 MLB games yet nor did he play there a lot in the minors, and impatient stupid fans think he will never learn how to get better even though he’s young, talented and athletic enough to get there.
He also makes a lot of plays other CF couldn’t get to. Canha in CF takes bad routes like the other day.
Canha isn’t a center fielder, he’s a hitter standing out in center field.
Canha is for all intents and purposes a 4th outfielder. Expecting him to put up day to day numbers isn’t to be expected, and the same goes for Chad Pinder.
Canha is really the only one who can play center. The other guys are strictly corner outfielders.
If the A’s played Beau Taylor, Nick Martini and Corban Joseph at C, LF and 2B everyday they would win the World Series.
On Beau Taylor: yes, until Murphy is healthy.
On Nick Martini: yes, until Bolt is healthy.
On Joseph: SSS in the majors, but he’s interesting. Unfortunately, that’s a big move to DFA one of Profar or Barreto to give another unproven player a shot at the majors, but that’d happen with Neuse too so I don’t particularly disagaree.
Ramon is just learning the ways in center. He is fine there. Don’t break what isn’t broken gee…
Maybe he shouldn’t pimp homeruns, and be an obnoxious loudmouth sonofabitch?!
He only does after a pitcher (with a reputation for being a punk) steps on his bat first.
You missed the context. Sampson had a good start against the A’s in Texas starting the second game of a day night double header, after which we lost our backup catcher and were forced to play our primary catcher for what would end up being 16 innings of baseball that day. Canha hit a home run, Sampson was pissed because he sucked, Laureano took exception and punked him.
Bro Ramon had every right to act like that. Don’t be getting on him just because he got a little payback.
Grab Billy Hamilton as soon as KC releases him. He’s good for some great D.
Might as well just let Mateo roam in center field. Hamilton’s defensive value is completely snubbed by his negative offensive value.
Oh man this is a huge blow. He is irreplaceable.
this guy is extremely underrated
I was probably one of the only people voting for him nearly every time in the ASG
Canha has zero business in CF. Coin toss between Grossman, Pinder and Martini.
Wdym? Canha is actually decent in center, unlike the others. Plus, he has the most experience. The other guys are strictly corner outfielders.
He’s known as “Laser Ramon”
Not “Lazor Ramon”