After a terrific rookie season, Ramón Laureano appeared headed toward the dreaded "sophomore slump" early this year.
Through 42 games, the A's center fielder was hitting just .222 with a .281 on-base percentage and .346 slugging percentage. He often looked lost at the plate, striking out 49 times in his first 153 at-bats.
Since then, Laureano has been arguably the hottest hitter in Major League Baseball. The 24-year-old is riding a 16-game hitting streak, tied for the longest in the American League this season. During that stretch, he is batting .365 (23-for-63) with three home runs and nine doubles.
"It was just a matter of time for him," said A's manager Bob Melvin. "This isn't a guy who's going to press. This isn't a guy who's going to lose his confidence. He's a pretty confident kid. It's just about making adjustments to the adjustments that have been made to him and trying to make them throw it over the plate and not trying to be too aggressive."
In just 16 games, Laureano has raised his batting average 42 points, from .222 to .264. He now has the fourth-most hits on the A's (57) and second-most doubles (13).
"I think it's very simple," Laureano said of his improvement. "You just see it and hit it, trust your work in the cage, and that's it. I've been keeping it really simple."
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It may seem simple to Laureano, but Melvin noted that he has made some key adjustments to his swing.
"He looks like he's a little shorter, he's tracking a little bit longer, he's not chasing as much," Melvin explained. "It seems like now he's seeing the ball better than he has all year."
Laureano has also shown the ability to hit for power, ranking fifth on the A's with eight home runs. That puts him on pace for 22 for the season, though he doesn't concern himself with the long ball.
"I know I have power, but I'm a contact guy first," Laureano told NBC Sports California. "I don't think about (hitting for power). I have learned from the past not to think about it. It will come (naturally)."
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Laureano obviously has a wealth of athleticism and natural ability, but Melvin praises his relentless work ethic as his greatest asset.
"He's a student of the game," Melvin said. "He's a baseball rat. He's here early. He's in the cage all the time. He loves to play. He obviously works on his defense. He works on his hitting. He'll take any piece of information that he possibly can. ... He's always trying to pick our brains as well. He's the type of player that you want on your team."
