Chase DeLauter has found a rhythm at the plate, and the Cleveland rookie says the answer is as simple as it gets.
Since coming off the injured list on June 28, DeLauter has been one of the most productive hitters on the roster. In his last eight games, he’s batting .353 with seven RBI and four extra-base hits. That run includes a two-run homer against the White Sox on Sunday, his first since May 17.
Asked what’s driving the surge, DeLauter pointed to a calmer approach.
“I think just being a little bit more calmer, taking it back to the old days, like Wiffle ball style, man,” DeLauter said.
That mindset has shown up in the way he’s been attacking pitches since returning. Instead of pressing after missing time, DeLauter has talked about keeping things loose and stripping his approach down to the basics, leaning on the same natural swing that first pulled him into the game.
For Cleveland, the timing has been ideal. The Guardians have depended on young players all season, and DeLauter’s bat gives Stephen Vogt another option in a lineup that has had to get by without Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez for extended stretches. His production has helped ease the burden on the order at a time when the club needed someone to step in and deliver.
The bigger takeaway is that DeLauter isn’t trying to do too much. He’s trusting feel, not overthinking mechanics, and letting the swing play. If that Wiffle ball-style approach keeps working, Cleveland’s offense gets another layer heading into the second half.
In Other News...
Another Guardians Outfielder Just Became A Casualty Of Cleveland's Youth Shift
Stuart Fairchilds brief run with Cleveland is over after the Guardians designated the outfielder for assignment and he later elected free agency when he went unclaimed on outright waivers. The move fits the clubs broader roster churn, one that has increasingly tilted toward younger outfield options as the Guardians keep reshaping the edges of the roster.
Fairchild now has another path forward, but his departure also underscores how little room there is for veteran depth pieces when Cleveland is trying to clear space for the next wave. The Guardians have continued to lean into that youth movement in the outfield, and Fairchild became the latest casualty of it. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Draft History Looks Even Worse Than Fans Remember
For a franchise that has spent years trying to build through the draft, the Guardians history of first- and early-round swings looks rougher when revisited in one place. A review of five of the organizations biggest misses puts a harsh spotlight on how little Cleveland got back from several premium picks, especially when those players never turned into real trade chips either. Bradley Zimmers injury-plagued run, Jeremy Sowers quick fade after arriving as a high pick, and Carson Tuckers inability to establish himself all fit the same frustrating pattern.
Tuckers case is especially stark because his time in the system ended with a .164 batting average in 73 minor league games before Cleveland moved on. Add in the broader track record around those other picks, and it becomes clear why this part of the Guardians draft history still lingers with fans. The organization has had plenty of success stories to point to over the years, but these misses are a reminder that not every promising name in June turns into help in October, or even much help at all. [Read more 🡒]
Francisco Lindor Is Back At The Center Of A Guardians Debate
Francisco Lindors name has a way of pulling Cleveland back into the conversation, and this latest round of chatter is no different. The former Guardians star, now under a long-term Mets deal, has become a talking point again as New York sits at the bottom of its division and analysts start gaming out whether a reunion could even be considered.
The idea is easy enough to understand from Clevelands side, since Lindor still carries the kind of impact and familiarity that would make any front office pause. But the contract alone makes the whole exercise feel more theoretical than practical, and the debate has already split opinions, with some seeing a fit and others wanting no part of it. [Read more 🡒]