While the Cleveland Guardians struggle to consistently score runs at the MLB level, one of their best prospects, Chase DeLauter, has been raking in Triple-A for weeks.
Yes, he has been taking at-bats and rounding into form after being out rehabbing from sports hernia surgery, but the numbers and the eye test say he is ready for a stint on the grand stage.
Cleveland is understandably taking things slow with DeLauter, especially after the long layoff, but Triple-A just doesn’t look like a challenge for him anymore.
“Cleveland Guardians 23yr-old OF prospect Chase DeLauter collected a pair of hits tonight (2-4 RBI) for Columbus driving in a run in the 3rd inning 103.7 mph off the bat. He also showed off his arm nailing a runner at the plate from left field. DeLauter has now reached base in all 17 games played with the Clippers. Last 8 games: 11-29 5R 2(2B) 4RBI 7BB 2SO. AVG .379. OBP .500,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.
Cleveland #Guardians 23yr old OF prospect Chase DeLauter collected a pair of hits tonight (2-4 RBI) for Columbus driving in a run in the 3rd inning 103.7 mph off the bat. He also showed off his arm nailing a runner at the plate from left field.
DeLauter has now reached base in… pic.twitter.com/yjVqyQvocy
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) June 18, 2025
As his BB/SO ratio over the last eight games indicates, he has been absolutely locked in at the plate over that span.
Meanwhile, the Guardians are struggling to score more than four runs in every game over an extended stretch of games this month.
Yes, Nolan Jones has started hitting, but there could be other ways to include DeLauter in their plans if they want.
In 17 Triple-A games, DeLauter boasts a 125 wRC+.
At this point, the Guardians can’t afford to waste him in Columbus anymore.
Their best lineup probably includes the young prospect already.
They could be waiting for the power to arrive, as he has just one homer in the 17 contests with Columbus, but we should see the talented former first-rounder up within the next couple of weeks.
NEXT: Analyst Rejects Common Narrative About Guardians, Jose Ramirez
