The Cleveland Guardians weren’t supposed to be a playoff team last season-not with an offense that ranked near the bottom of the league. But somehow, they found a way. And now, as they look to build on that improbable run, much of their 2026 hopes may rest on the shoulders of a young outfielder who’s barely dipped his toes into the major league waters: Chase DeLauter.
Last October, the Guardians made a bold move-one you rarely see in baseball. They added DeLauter, who had yet to make his MLB debut, to their postseason roster for the AL Wild Card series.
It was a high-upside swing, the kind of gamble you take when you're searching for a spark. But the payoff didn’t quite materialize.
DeLauter went 1-for-6 at the plate, and Cleveland bowed out in three games.
Still, that taste of October could turn out to be a turning point-not just for DeLauter, but for the Guardians’ lineup as a whole.
Now 24, DeLauter enters spring training with a clean bill of health and a clear path to an Opening Day roster spot. One projection even has him slotted as the Guardians’ starting right fielder and batting second in the lineup-a sign of just how much the organization believes in his bat and his approach.
And there’s good reason for that belief. Despite a stop-and-start journey through the minors, largely due to a laundry list of injuries, DeLauter has flashed the kind of upside that made him a first-round pick back in 2022.
He’s dealt with everything from a hamate fracture to core muscle surgery, a hamstring strain, a fractured foot, a sprained toe, and even foot surgery. It’s been a grind.
But when he’s been on the field, the talent has been undeniable.
In a limited sample at Triple-A last season-just 34 games-DeLauter hit .278 with an .859 OPS and five home runs. That kind of production, if it translates to the big leagues, could make him a legitimate contender for AL Rookie of the Year. More importantly for Cleveland, it could give their lineup the jolt it desperately needs.
Manager Stephen Vogt has already gone on record with his confidence in DeLauter, citing the way the young outfielder handled himself when he was thrust into the playoff spotlight last fall. That composure, combined with his tools, makes him one of the most intriguing players to watch in 2026.
And he’s not the only young bat Cleveland is counting on. With a quiet offseason on the acquisition front, the Guardians are banking on internal growth to fuel their offense. That includes Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, who could make his debut this year after battling through his own injury setbacks.
It’s a risky strategy, no doubt. Relying on unproven talent to carry the load is a gamble-especially for a team that’s won back-to-back division titles and doesn’t want to take a step backward. But Cleveland has made a habit of defying expectations, and if DeLauter can stay healthy and hit the way he’s shown he can, he might just be the key to keeping that trend alive.