How Chase DeLauter has become one of MLB's most exciting rookies

CLEVELAND — DeLauter-Mania has hit the shores of Lake Erie.

The soundtrack for the phenomenon on April 3 was John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” over the Progressive Field PA system, followed by a few lines sung a cappella by the home crowd, then the crack of the bat.

Chase DeLauter‘s world-dominating start to what is technically his rookie season surged forward in the Guardians‘ 4-1 home-opening win over the Chicago Cubs.

In the fifth inning, it was “Country Roads,” then the crowd singing it on their own, and then an RBI single that tied the score 1-1. Two innings later, it was “Country Roads,” then the crowd singing it on their own, and then a two-run home run launched into the Cleveland night.

1 / 6

Guardians vs. Cubs, Cleveland home opener photos

Apr 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Joey Cantillo (54) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

1 / 6

Guardians vs. Cubs, Cleveland home opener photos

2 / 6

Guardians vs. Cubs, Cleveland home opener photos

Apr 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton (22) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

3 / 6

Guardians vs. Cubs, Cleveland home opener photos

Fans take pictures outside before the start of the home opener Cleveland Guardians game the against Chicago Cubs, April 3, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

4 / 6

Guardians vs. Cubs, Cleveland home opener photos

Fans mingle outside before the start of the home opener Cleveland Guardians game against the Chicago Cubs, April 3, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

5 / 6

Guardians vs. Cubs, Cleveland home opener photos

Graham Veysey and his daughter, Red Clark Veysey, 5, spend their fifth opening day together before the opening Guardians home game against the Chicago Cubs, April 3, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

6 / 6

Guardians vs. Cubs, Cleveland home opener photos

Apr 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez walks off the field during batting practice before the game between the Guardians and the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field.

“I mean, now just seeing him do it on the big stage, it’s as advertised, if not better,” said Guardians pitcher Joey Cantillo, who allowed one run in 5⅓ innings with six strikeouts in the win. “Obviously he has the ability to do that every time he swings the bat, so it’s awesome.”

Only four players since at least 1900 have hit five home runs in their first seven career regular-season games, according to Sarah Langs: Mark Quinn (1999), Trevor Story (2026), Rece Hinds (2024) and, now, DeLauter.

In Cleveland history, he’s the first player to hit home runs in four of his first seven career games. And he’s the first hitter to blast home runs in his first regular-season home and away games since Joe Charboneau in 1980.

Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter reacts to his two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the home opener April 4, 2026, in Cleveland.

Cleveland Guardians’ Chase DeLauter reacts to his two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the home opener April 4, 2026, in Cleveland.

The Guardians threw him into the fire of postseason baseball last year, when he made the Wild Card Series roster. It was a debut that couldn’t have been more pressure-packed, though in terms of his rookie season, that began with Opening Day last week.

In terms of handling pressure, DeLauter had already passed a much more difficult test than most of his peers making their regular-season debuts.

“Yeah it’s incredible, what he’s doing,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “Like we talked about in the postseason, this kid’s comfortable. He’s not big-eyed, and he’s doing a phenomenal job for us. It’s a really fun start for him this year.”

Due to a series of injuries and setbacks over a span of several years, DeLauter had to wait, and wait, and wait some more for his major league debut. He scaled a mountain of frustration when he was supposed to be climbing the minor league ladder.

Now that he made finally made it in a regular-season setting, he’s pounding every pitch in sight.

Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter, right, reacts to his two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the home opener April 4, 2026, in Cleveland.

Cleveland Guardians’ Chase DeLauter, right, reacts to his two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the home opener April 4, 2026, in Cleveland.

Chase DeLauter stats

In seven games he’s belted five home runs, racked up eight RBIs and has a .346 average with a 1.293 OPS. And during a first week of the season in which Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan have had slow starts, DeLauter has carried the Guardians lineup to a 5-3 record despite a tough opening schedule.

“Like a dream come true, it really does,” DeLauter said when asked how the last week had felt after years of setbacks. “I mean, it’s something you get lost in, definitely, because of the day-to-day basis, and sometimes you kind of forget why you’re here.

“But … beautiful day, packed crowd. What is there not to be happy about?”

Utility man Daniel Schneemann said they’ve been hearing that crack of the bat all over the park, and you can tell it’s DeLauter during batting practice.

“It’s unbelievable,” Schneemann said. “If you’ve seen him play in the past, it’s not very surprising. But it’s super special to watch him do what he’s doing right now.”

1 / 15