Success has always come naturally for Chase DeLauter. As a high school senior, the Martinsburg, West Virginia native won the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year award after batting .606 with 52 RBI. One year later, he earned a starting outfield spot at James Madison University, hitting .382 in 16 COVID-shortened games.
By the end of his college career, DeLauter owned a .402/.520/.715 slash line and was the No. 1 ranked player on the Perfect Game Top 150 College Draft Board. He was eventually taken 16th overall by the Cleveland Guardians in 2022, becoming the highest drafted player in school history.
In his first minor league season, DeLauter picked up where he left off. In 57 games, the then-22-year-old hit .355 with a .945 OPS in 57 games. He also recorded more RBI (39) than strikeouts (30) in the process.
After two more minor league seasons, DeLauter made the Guardians’ 2026 Opening Day roster. However, even he couldn’t have fathomed the heights he’d reach.
Rookie Sensation
Throughout his rookie season, DeLauter seemingly highlighted a new facet of his game each month.
In March, it was his power that took center stage. On Opening Day, DeLauter became the first player since Trevor Story in 2016 to homer twice in his major league debut. He followed up that performance with home runs in consecutive games, bringing his total to four through three contests.
The following month, DeLauter showcased his elite plate discipline, totaling 13 walks and six strikeouts in 79 at-bats. In May, the baseball world was introduced to his knack for driving in runs, as the rookie compiled 14 RBI in 27 games.
By regular season’s end, DeLauter led the Guardians in batting average, something a rookie hadn’t done since Joe Jackson in 1911. Simply put, it was a rookie season for the ages.
Bright Lights
As every baseball fan knows, the postseason is a different beast. When the calendar hits October, a player’s regular season resume is thrown out the window. However, despite heightened expectations, DeLauter has answered the call.
In the ALDS, DeLauter was an on-base machine. He reached safely in four of five contests, doing so multiple times in two of them. He also never struck out, proving his veteran-like plate discipline was no flash in the pan.
In the ALCS, DeLauter has once again risen to the occasion. Through two games, the 25-year-old has reached base in seven of nine plate appearances, driving in a run in each contest. But while this performance might be a surprise for many, those who know DeLauter know it’s the standard.
“We’ve asked him to do something impossible, and that’s hit at the top to the middle of the order for a full season as a rookie,” said manager Stephen Vogt before the postseason. “Whether he’s 0-for-4, 4-for-4 the next day, he was right back in that same spot in the lineup.”
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