In a surprisingly bold move, the Cleveland Guardians appear calling up right fielder Chase DeLauter, a top three prospect in their system, for the wildcard series against the Tigers beginning today, as rumored
by the Athletic’s Zack Meisel and other Twitter sources.
DeLauter is 6’3”, 235 lbs, and hails from James Madison University, from which he was drafted 16th overall in the 2022 draft by the Guardians.
In only 81 minor league games over the past two years because of multiple foot injuries,a sports hernia, and, most recently a broken hamate, Chase DeLauter had a 130 wRC+ with a 14.7/13.8 K/BB% and while running a 91 average exit velocity and about a 52% hard-hit rate in Columbus (both of marks would lead all Guardians who have had 100 or more plate appearances this season). Not only that, but he has generally run fly ball rates over 50% and pull rates over 45% in the minors. He’s 23 years and 11 months old and a left-handed hitter, but he also had a 1.116 OPS vs. LHP this year.
DeLauter was being heavily rumored for a July debut when his hamate was hurt in batting practice, opening the door for C.J. Kayfus and George Valera to get chances there against RHP and Jhonkensy Noel and Johnathan Rodriguez against LHP. Now, he will get a chance to do sort of a 2016 Kyle Schwarber (2 regular season games before the World Series), and try to help the Guardians’ meager outfield and hitting production. I cannot more highly approve of this gutsy call by the Guardians’ front office.
Here’s a home run from May 26th:
He did something similar upon first arriving in Columbus last summer:
And here’s an absolutely demolished Spring Training home run:
DeLauter has an unorthodox swing leaving some to wonder if he’ll struggle with high velocity up in the zone, but he hasn’t so far. The big issue has been health for Chase; everything else – plate discipline, exit velocity, pulled fly ball rate – says that this dude should be a good hitter and he looks solid in the field, as well.
It’s an exciting, long-awaited day in Cleveland, even if DeLauter seems unlikely to get a start vs. lefty Tarik Skubal. I am so interested to see if DeLauter, in time, can end our curse of having a bad two-hole hitter and bad right-fielder hitter in one fell blow, and that time starts today.
It will be interesting to see who DeLauter replaces on the roster and how they manage to get him into games. Is it possible they would try DeLauter in centerfield (86 innings there in 2024)? Or is DeLauter replacing George Valera or one of the right-handed sluggers for right-field? Or, is he simply a more formidable bench bat replacement for Petey Halpin? We will know soon enough.
It’s just hard to believe that we will finally see DeLauter in the big leagues. The front office is seemingly admitting that their team needs more firepower with the addition of the young left-handed slugger. I cannot stress how relieved and excitedd this makes me.
Welcome to the Guardians, Chase!
