The Cleveland Guardians signed Rhys Hoskins this offseason to provide middle-of-the-order production and veteran presence. According to Chase DeLauter, the presence part has been every bit as valuable as the bat.
MLB.com caught up with DeLauter this week and the young outfielder opened up about what Hoskins has meant to the Guardians clubhouse since arriving in the spring, both on the field and away from it.
“He came in during the spring as essentially a new guy, and right away immediately made an impact. Obviously on the field, as we see, he’s always able to get to the pull side in the air, hitting homers, doubles, whatever it is. And then off the field, just being that guy to be able to lean on, whether it’s needing a plan for the pitcher or even just someone to kind of shoot the breeze with. That’s been the most impressive thing, is just seeing him be a leader and guide us toward what we want to be,” DeLauter said.
DeLauter himself has been going through one of the more difficult stretches of his young career, and the numbers over the last week reflect a player searching for answers. Over his last 7 games he is slashing .192 with a .222 on base percentage and a .192 slugging percentage, going hitless in his last three games in Texas and New York while striking out twice on Friday night against the Rangers. Over his last 15 games the numbers are equally concerning, a .204 average with a .222 slugging percentage that reflects the power evaporation that analysts have publicly identified as the defining problem with his game right now.
Having a veteran like Hoskins in that clubhouse, someone DeLauter can go to for a scouting report on a pitcher or simply talk through a mechanical adjustment, is exactly the kind of resource a 24 year old hitter needs when the league starts making adjustments to him. The full season numbers still reflect a player who was legitimately impactful earlier this year. Through 218 at bats, DeLauter carries a .252 average with a .329 on base percentage, a .737 OPS, 7 home runs, and 32 RBI. Those numbers were built when the power was present and consistent. Getting it back is the challenge that defines his next chapter of the 2026 season.
Hoskins arrived in Cleveland as a one-year, $1.5 million dollar addition who many observers viewed as a roster filler rather than a cornerstone piece. What DeLauter is describing is something considerably more meaningful than that.
The on field numbers for DeLauter are still searching for the level Cleveland needs them to reach. The off field impact Hoskins provides, according to one of the players who benefits from it most, was evident from the very first day of spring training.
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