If there is one thing you can say about Chase DeLauter, it’s that the Cleveland Guardians rookie knows how to make a first impression. He started his first full MLB season by hitting two home runs on Opening Day, and followed that with two more in the next two games.
Then, in the Guardians’ home opener against the Chicago Cubs, DeLauter homered again, giving the fans an up-close view of what they were missing while the team was on the road. The 4-1 victory showed all the signs of what Cleveland could be capable of this season, with DeLauter at the center of it all.
Analyst Earl D Mauldin believes DeLauter’s play not only will be important to his team but also could be something big for the city overall, and for the sport in general.
“How exciting is Chase DeLauter to watch. He has given an infusion of energy to this city of Cleveland. Chase DeLauter has the opportunity to make Clevelanders love baseball again,” Mauldin said.
"How exciting is Chase DeLauter to watch. He has given an infusion of energy to this city of Cleveland. Chase DeLauter has the opportunity to make Clevelanders love baseball again."
🚨 @earldapearl_216 and @Spencito_ on the #Guardians rookie's presence alongside Jose Ramirez pic.twitter.com/C2uGQHDbsA
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) April 4, 2026
DeLauter gave Cleveland’s eager fans a bit of a scare when he fouled a ball off his troublesome left foot against the Los Angeles Dodgers and had to sit out the finale of the opening seven-game road trip. Instead of playing the outfield upon their return home, DeLauter was in the lineup as the DH, and he did not miss a beat at the plate.
Against the Cubs, DeLauter tied the game 1-1 with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. Then, he hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning, his first at Progressive Field, to give Cleveland a 4-1 lead.
He finished the day 3-for-4, and he is now tied for the major league lead with five home runs to go along with eight RBIs, a .346 batting average and an OPS of 1.293. It is beyond what anyone could have dreamed of, even after a spring training when he posted similar statistics.
Last year, DeLauter became one of the few players in history to make his MLB debut in a postseason game. He appeared in two of the three contests against the Detroit Tigers in the AL Wild Card Round at Progressive Field, but he was just 1-for-6.
Now, in his first performance there this year, he showed the fans what they have to look forward to for an entire season.
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