The Cleveland Guardians appear to be gaining clarity on their outfield plans as Opening Day approaches, and one name is starting to stand out above the rest.
With several moving pieces in the mix, manager Stephen Vogt recently shed light on how the team is approaching its outfield alignment, particularly when it comes to top prospect Chase DeLauter.
“DeLauter might be the guy that we want to play right field. We wanna keep him playing the same position, and he’s gonna DH a lot too. We wanna keep this guy to as close to 100% everyday as possible,” Vogt said.
With a versatile outfield entering 2026, #Guardians Stephen Vogt goes in depth on some of the outfield configurations we could see entering the season.
A few that he notes:
– Chase DeLauter mainly in RF and DH
– CJ Kayfus in LF, RF, 1B
– Steven Kwan in CF, LF#GuardsBall @WEWS pic.twitter.com/t9cpE1UdLE— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) March 22, 2026
Cleveland has experimented with versatility across the roster this spring, but DeLauter appears to be the exception. Vogt made it clear the organization wants to prioritize consistency for the young outfielder, both in terms of position and workload.
“We felt like putting him in right field is his best outfield position, and it also allows him to have the consistency of ‘I know where I’m gonna be and I know where I need to go.’ As of right now, he’s the one person that will stay in one spot,” Vogt added.
According to reports, the Guardians are envisioning a fluid outfield overall, with players moving around depending on matchups and needs. Steven Kwan is expected to see time in both center and left field, while CJ Kayfus could be utilized across left field, right field, and even first base.
But DeLauter is different.
Keeping him primarily in right field while mixing in DH opportunities allows Cleveland to manage his health while also giving him a defined role.
If DeLauter holds down right field, it becomes easier to rotate others like Kwan and Kayfus into complementary roles.
And with the season about to begin, that clarity could not come at a better time.
While there are still decisions to be made across the roster, one thing is becoming increasingly clear.
The Guardians may have already found their answer in right field.
NEXT: Guardians Make Big Decision With Rhys Hoskins
