The Cleveland Guardians are heading into 2026 with a clear goal: win the AL Central for a third straight year. But if they’re going to pull it off, they’ll need a serious offensive jolt-because last season, the bats just didn’t show up.
With a team batting average of .226 and only two players cracking more than 14 home runs, the Guardians' lineup was one of the least productive in baseball. That leaves the door wide open for new faces to step in and make an impact.
Enter Chase DeLauter.
The 22-year-old outfielder got his first taste of the big leagues during the AL Wild Card series, and now he’s got a legitimate shot to break camp as a starter this spring. Whether it’s in center or right field, DeLauter has a chance to become a key piece of the Guardians’ lineup from Day 1. And based on what he’s doing this offseason, he knows exactly what’s at stake.
In a recent call with MLB Radio, DeLauter pulled back the curtain on his offseason grind. His focus? Getting leaner, stronger, and more durable-especially in the lower half of his body, which has been a limiting factor in the past.
“I’ve been trying to cut down a little bit of weight, slim down a little bit, clean up,” DeLauter said. “Make sure I can be on my feet as much as possible. I’m trying to figure out how to make sure my legs are ready for that.”
That’s not just talk. DeLauter’s injury history is well-documented-he’s played just 138 games across three years in the minors.
For a player with his upside, staying healthy is priority number one. Because when he’s on the field, the production speaks for itself.
Across those limited appearances, he’s posted an .888 OPS-a number that jumps off the page for a young player still adjusting to pro pitching.
But DeLauter’s not just working on his body. He’s also thinking about how he fits into the Guardians’ clubhouse culture, and what kind of teammate he wants to be.
“I think the next step is making sure we’re all coming up trusting each other, playing for each other’s back, not playing selfish,” he said. “That’s the way we’re going to play Guardians ball and going to win games.”
That mindset fits perfectly with the Guardians’ identity-gritty, team-first baseball that relies on execution and cohesion more than star power. And if DeLauter can carry that attitude into the regular season, it’ll go a long way toward solidifying his spot in the lineup.
Of course, there’s always risk in counting on a rookie who hasn’t logged a regular-season at-bat. But DeLauter isn’t walking into this blind. That short postseason cameo may have been brief, but it could prove invaluable in helping him adjust to the speed and pressure of the big leagues.
The Guardians don’t need DeLauter to be a savior. What they need is a spark-someone who can inject some life into a lineup that lacked punch last year.
If he can stay healthy and tap into the same swing that made him a top prospect, DeLauter could be that guy. And if he is, don’t be surprised if his name starts popping up in early Rookie of the Year conversations.
Cleveland’s offense needs a new face. Chase DeLauter is doing everything he can to be that face.