Unlike almost every other MLB player in history, Chase DeLauter got to experience postseason baseball before ever playing in a regular-season game. Now, coming off his first full campaign with the Cleveland Guardians, DeLauter is showing that even his very brief experience may be paying off.
The 25-year-old outfielder has been one of the best hitters during this year’s playoffs, highlighted by his breakout performance in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. He almost hit for the cycle in Cleveland’s 7-3 comeback win.
After also helping the Guardians rally to eliminate the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS, DeLauter’s postseason numbers are turning heads, with an excellent OPS as the highlight.
“Cleveland Guardians OF Chase DeLauter reached base 4x tonight (3-4 3R 2B HR RBI BB) collecting three hits including his 1st career postseason HR in the team’s ALCS Game 1 win over the Rays. 2026 post-season numbers: AVG .333, OBP .407, SLG .500, OPS .907,” Guardians Prospective posted.
Cleveland #Guardians OF Chase DeLauter reached base 4x tonight (3-4 3R 2B HR RBI BB) collecting three hits including his 1st career post-season HR in the team's ALCS Game 1 win over the Rays.
2026 post-season numbers:
AVG .333
OBP .407
SLG .500
OPS .907#StandGuard pic.twitter.com/lh4YjwIxUZ— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) October 13, 2026
Last year, DeLauter made his MLB debut in the AL Wild Card series against the Detroit Tigers. He went 1-for-6 with a walk, playing the final two games of Cleveland’s three-game series loss.
This season, he was the Guardians’ Opening Day right fielder and lived up to his status as a top prospect. He finished with a .287/.363/.457 slash line, 16 home runs and 67 RBIs, but most importantly, he appeared in 133 games after a three-year minor-league career that was severely limited by injuries.
In the playoffs, DeLauter has been even better, which is impressive for any player, let alone a rookie. He is riding a five-game hitting streak, and after a single, double, home run and walk on Monday, his OPS ranks fourth among players who are still competing in the postseason. Notably, he is behind teammates Jose Ramirez and Patrick Bailey, with Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras atop the list.
Cleveland was trailing Tampa Bay 2-0 heading into the top of the sixth when DeLauter hit an impressive opposite-field home run off of Rays ace Drew Rasmussen. It seemed to ignite the Guardians, who had just finished their five-game series against the White Sox on Saturday night.
Now, DeLauter and his teammates will try to build on that momentum in Game 2 on Tuesday at Tropicana Field.
NEXT: Stephen Vogt Reveals How Jose Ramirez Is Lifting Guardians
