Ramon Laureano surprised every Atlanta Braves fan last season when he joined the roster in May. His 2024 started out very poorly with the Cleveland Guardians. He batted a measly .143 over 31 games with the Guardians and was designated for assignment in mid-May.
He was signed by the Braves on a minor league deal shortly after being released by Cleveland. He found his swing during his time with the Gwinnett Stripers and was called up by Atlanta on June 16 due to an injury to Michael Harris II.
Despite some iffy defensive moments, Laureano exploded and became an important part of Atlanta's lineup. He hit .296/.327/.505 over 67 games with the Braves, including 10 home runs, 13 doubles, 29 RBI, and a 128 OPS+.
Many people assumed the Braves might bring him back in 2025 since they needed an outfield addition. However, Atlanta non-tendered him and decided Jurickson Profar would be their answer in the foreseeable future.
Ramon Laureano joins Orioles after impressive resurgence with Braves in 2024
However, Laureano's great second half with the Braves earned him a spot with the Orioles. Baltimore signed the right fielder to a one-year, $4 million contract. The deal also includes a club option for 2026 worth $6.5 million.
The Orioles are signing Ramón Laureano to a one-year deal, per @Ken_Rosenthal pic.twitter.com/7mfaBfJOsb
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) February 4, 2025
Laureano joins former Atlanta pitcher Charlie Morton who also joined the Orioles this offseason. So, Laureano will have some familiarity in the clubhouse and he will be a great addition for Baltimore. The outfield is a tad bit crowded with Dylan Carlson and slugger Tyler O'Neill also being added earlier in the offseason.
Colton Cowser and Cedric Mullins make up the rest of the outfield so Laureano and Carlson will likely be relegated to bench roles. Regardless, Ramon brings a good veteran presence to the Orioles and can play any outfield positon. He is a career .247 hitter with a .749 OPS over 610 games and will be a welcome sight.