Astros' Laureano takes first AFL honors

Ramon Laureano has been out to prove that 2016 is his year, and a trip to the Arizona Fall League has done nothing to change that.

The Astros' No. 29 prospect was named the AFL's first Player of the Week for the 2016 campaign after he went 8-for-14 (.571) with two triples, two doubles, three RBIs, eight runs scored and three steals in four games for Glendale. He led the league in hits, total bases and runs scored over the first week of the season, while finishing tied for first in extra-base hits and stolen bases.

It didn't take long for Laureano to get settled into the circuit commonly called "prospect finishing school." Batting from the leadoff spot, the 22-year-old outfielder went 3-for-5 with a triple, double, RBI and two runs scored in his first game last Wednesday -- a 7-1 Desert Dogs win over Mesa.

Laureano's award-winning effort is just the latest in an impressive year overall. After a 2015 season in which he hit .265 with four homers and a .737 OPS in 76 games at Class A Quad Cities, the 2014 16th-rounder out of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M broke out at Class A Advanced Lancaster, where he produced a .317/.426/.519 line with 10 homers and 33 steals in 80 games. The right-handed slugger was even better following a July 21 promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi with a .323/.432/.548 line, five homers and 10 steals in 36 games for the Hooks.

Thanks to his breakout season, the Dominican Republic native moved into MLB.com's ranking of top 30 Astros prospects for the first time during the site's midseason update. He earned a plus 60 grade on the 20-80 scale for his run tool and an above-average 55 for his fielding. Laureano made two starts in right field last week for the Desert Dogs with his other start coming in center, where he spent most of his time during the regular season. He also appeared as a pinch-hitter last Friday before staying in the game at DH.