Ramón Laureano Bio
Ramón Emilio Laureano Jr. (born July 15, 1994) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Guardians, Atlanta Braves, and Baltimore Orioles. He made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Athletics, where he gained recognition for his strong defensive skills and powerful arm.
Across his MLB career, Laureano has been valued for his throwing arm in the outfield and his ability to drive the ball at the plate. After stints with several organizations, he joined the Padres midseason in 2025 and finished the year as a regular contributor in the lineup.
Early Life and Background
Ramón Laureano was born on July 15, 1994, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He is the only son of Nina and Ramón Laureano, and he was raised in the Dominican capital. Growing up in a country with a deep baseball tradition, he developed an early interest in the sport and worked his way through amateur competition in the region.
As a young player in the Dominican Republic, Laureano drew attention for his athletic tools, including his speed and his throwing arm, both of which later became trademarks of his professional profile. These formative years in Santo Domingo shaped his approach to the game and prepared him for the next step in his career.
Path to Baseball
Laureano moved to the United States to play college baseball at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, where he continued to develop as an outfielder. His performance there put him on the radar of Major League scouting departments, and in 2014 he was selected by the Houston Astros in the 16th round of the Major League Baseball draft.
That draft selection marked the beginning of his professional journey, taking him out of amateur baseball and into the Astros’ minor league system. From there, he began a steady climb through the lower levels of professional baseball, with each season adding new experience and refining his tools as a position player.
Ramón Laureano Career
Minor League Years (2014–2017)
Laureano made his professional debut with the Greeneville Astros in 2014, batting .189 with one home run and two RBIs in 16 games. The following season with the Quad Cities River Bandits, he showed growth at the plate, hitting .265 with four home runs, 34 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases in 2015. His progress continued in 2016, when he split the year between the Lancaster JetHawks and the Corpus Christi Hooks, finishing with a combined .319 average, 15 home runs, and 73 RBIs across 116 games.
In 2017, Laureano returned to Corpus Christi and posted a .227 batting average with 11 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases. After that season, rather than add him to the 40-man roster, the Astros traded him to the Oakland Athletics on November 20, 2017, in exchange for pitcher Brandon Bailey, a turning point that set the stage for his MLB arrival.
Oakland Athletics Breakthrough (2018–2022)
Laureano reached the majors on August 3, 2018, when the Athletics called him up to the big leagues. That night, he delivered a walk-off single in the 13th inning against the Detroit Tigers, becoming the first Athletic since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920 to record a walk-off RBI as his first MLB hit. Later that August, he homered twice off Bartolo Colón in a shutout of the Texas Rangers, and in September he joined rare A’s company with two multi-homer games within his first 30 career games.
The 2019 season established Laureano as a regular, as he batted .288 with 24 home runs and 67 RBIs while playing center field every day. On defense, however, he led all major league center fielders in errors and posted the lowest fielding percentage at the position. In 2020, his year was marked by an August 9 incident in which he charged the Houston Astros bench, leading to an ejection and a suspension that was reduced to four games on appeal. He finished that shortened season batting .213 with six home runs and an American League-leading 12 hit-by-pitches.
On August 6, 2021, Laureano was suspended 80 games by MLB after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug nandrolone, and he underwent core surgery in October 2021. He returned to the lineup on May 8, 2022, after serving the remainder of his suspension, and on January 13, 2023, signed a one-year, $3.55 million contract with Oakland to avoid salary arbitration. In 64 games with the Athletics that year, he batted .213 with six home runs and 21 RBIs before being designated for assignment on August 5.
Cleveland Guardians (2023–2024)
On August 7, 2023, Laureano was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Guardians. Down the stretch with Cleveland, he appeared in 41 games and hit .243 with three home runs and 14 RBIs, providing outfield depth for the Guardians’ late-season push.
His time in Cleveland grew more difficult in 2024, when he batted .143 with one home run and four RBIs across 31 contests. The Guardians designated him for assignment on May 20, 2024, and after clearing waivers, they released him on May 25 while still owing him $5.15 million, opening the door for his next opportunity.
Atlanta Braves (2024)
On May 29, 2024, Laureano signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves organization, and he produced a strong .362 batting average with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 14 games for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers. The Braves added him to the active roster on June 15 after center fielder Michael Harris II went down with a hamstring strain.
In 67 games with Atlanta, Laureano slashed .296/.327/.505, hitting 10 home runs with 29 RBIs and five stolen bases. Despite that production, the Braves non-tendered him on November 22, making him a free agent once again. Following the season, he signed with Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Professional Baseball League to continue playing winter ball.
Baltimore Orioles (2025)
On February 4, 2025, Laureano signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, giving him another chance to be an everyday outfielder. He made the most of the opportunity, appearing in 82 games for Baltimore and batting .290/.355/.529 with 15 home runs, 46 RBIs, and four stolen bases.
San Diego Padres Era (2025–Present)
On July 31, 2025, the Orioles traded Laureano and Ryan O’Hearn to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Boston Bateman, Tyson Neighbors, Tanner Smith, Brandon Butterworth, Cobb Hightower, and Victor Figueroa. With San Diego, he finished the 2025 season batting .281 with 24 home runs and 76 runs batted in, becoming a key run-producer in the Padres’ lineup.
On September 24, 2025, Laureano sprained his finger against the Milwaukee Brewers and missed at least the first round of the postseason. The Padres went on to lose their series 2–1 to the Chicago Cubs, ending both his season and the team’s playoff run.
Driving Style and Strengths
Laureano has drawn attention for the strength and accuracy of his arm, which has made him a deterrent to opposing baserunners in the outfield. At the plate, his profile centers on pull-side power, plate discipline, and the ability to drive in runs in the middle of a lineup, traits that have allowed him to thrive as a corner outfielder.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Laureano’s career came on August 3, 2018, when his walk-off single marked the first walk-off RBI hit by an Athletic as his first major league hit since RBIs became official in 1920. He has also set A’s franchise marks with two multi-homer games within his first 30 career games, while his 80-game suspension in 2021 and his rebound with the Braves and Orioles stand as the most dramatic storylines of his journey through MLB.
Ramón Laureano Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Ramón Laureano is the only son of Nina and Ramón Laureano, and he was raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. His family supported his path from amateur baseball in the Dominican Republic to college ball at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and eventually to Major League Baseball. Beyond these verified details, further public information about his immediate family has not been confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a pivotal year in Laureano’s career, beginning with a one-year, $4 million contract he signed with the Baltimore Orioles on February 4, 2025. In 82 games with Baltimore, he was one of the team’s most consistent run-producers, batting .290 with a .529 slugging percentage and 15 home runs before the trade deadline. That production made him one of the more sought-after bats on the trade market.
On July 31, 2025, the Orioles sent him and Ryan O’Hearn to the San Diego Padres in a multi-prospect package, and Laureano kept his production rolling in the National League. He finished the year hitting .281 with 24 home runs and 76 RBIs across both teams, showcasing his middle-of-the-order power. A finger sprain suffered on September 24 against the Milwaukee Brewers forced him to miss at least the first round of the postseason, and the Padres were eliminated by the Cubs 2–1 in the wild-card series.
Entering the next phase of his career, Laureano is signed with the Padres through 2026 at a $4 million salary, providing San Diego with a proven run-producer and strong outfield arm. His 2025 numbers suggest he remains capable of providing 20-plus home run production, and his blend of contact, power, and defense should keep him in the team’s everyday plans.