CLEVELAND, Ohio — In the middle of last week, Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations, hinted that the Guardians might have plans for outfielder Chase DeLauter if they were able to make the postseason.
When asked if that meant the talented, but oft-injured DeLauter could be added to the postseason roster, Antonetti tapped the brakes as if to say, “Let’s wait to see if we get to the postseason first.”
Well, the Guardians clinched a postseason berth Saturday night with a 3-2 win over Texas on a walk-off, bases-loaded hit by pitch by C.J. Kayfus. On Sunday, they clinched the AL Central with a walk-off, three-run homer by Brayan Rocchio in the 10th inning in a 9-8 win against Texas.
On Monday afternoon, with the Guardians and Tigers holding a workout day at Progressive Field before they open a three-game wild card series on Tuesday at 1:08 p.m., there was Chase DeLauter shagging fly balls in center field.
He arrived from Triple-A Columbus Monday with catcher Dom Nunez as members of the Guardians’ taxi squad.
“We’re still trying to figure out exactly what we want the roster to look like,” said manager Stephen Vogt. “There’s a case to be made for both of them to be active, so they’re going to be here working out with us today.”
The 26-man wild card roster for the Guardians and Tigers must be submitted to the commissioner’s office by 10 a.m. Tuesday.
DeLauter could make his big league debut in the postseason. Several players have done it before with three of the most recent being Alex Kirilloff, Shane McClanahan and Ryan Weathers in 2020.
“It would be an absolute dream come true,” said DeLauter, when asked about making his big-league debut in the postseason. “I mean, it’s a dream come true just to be here and be a part of the team and have a chance to play.”
DeLauter, the Guardians No.1 pick in 2022, was slowed by foot surgeries after being drafted. He didn’t make his professional debut until June 5, 2023 because of those injuries.
He played only 39 games in 2024 because of injuries to his feet and a strained hamstring. This year he needed surgery for a sport hernia in spring training and hamate bone surgery in July.
In between the injuries, there have been flashes of what DeLauter can do when healthy.
In 2023, he hit .355 (76 for 214) in 57 games for three minor leagues clubs. In the Arizona Fall League in 2023, he hit .299 (26 for 87) with five homers and a league-leading 27 RBI.In the spring of 2024, he hit .520 (13 for 25) with four homers and 10 RBI with the big league club.This year he hit .255 (39 for 148) with seven homers and 24 RBI for Cleveland’s team in the Arizona Complex League and Columbus. DeLauter hit .278 (35 for 126) with five homers and 21 RBI for the Clippers.
Now he’s in Cleveland waiting to find out if he’ll make the wild card roster.
“I had some live at bats on Friday,” said DeLauter, who lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. “I had a call after that and was kind of told to just come up to Columbus, stay hot, stay ready, and then last night I got a call to come up here and just be ready to help any way I can really.”
There were times this year at Columbus where DeLauter thought he might get called to Cleveland.
“I mean, any player that’s at Columbus, and if they have a hot streak or whatever, it’s hard not to think that way,” said DeLauter. “For me, again, it was kind of just trying to stay day by day and play each game that night and just focus on that and whenever that time comes it would come.”
The broken hamate bone denied DeLauter that chance during the regular season, but another opportunity has presented itself because the Guardians did the unexpected by making the postseason.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.