It’s that time of year when the major MLB postseason awards will be handed out. The finalists have been announced, and the winners will be revealed next week. So, it’s also an opportunity to look at who the best players were for each individual team during the 2026 campaign.
As the AL Central champion, the Cleveland Guardians have plenty of worthy candidates for Team MVP. There would be a fair debate among a handful of deserving players.
Bleacher Report analyst Joel Reuter has made his pick for Guardians MVP this season, naming outfielder Chase DeLauter.
“With Jose Ramirez struggling through a down year while navigating a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, Chase DeLauter anchored Cleveland’s offense. The rookie outfielder hit .287/.363/.457 for a 131 OPS+ with 30 doubles, 16 home runs, 67 RBIs and a team-high 226 total bases,” Reuter wrote.
It is quite a distinction for someone who was playing his first MLB season. In 2025, DeLauter became one of the few players to make his debut in a postseason game, and he followed up that brief stint with an excellent full-year performance.
DeLauter got off to a historic start, with four home runs in his first three games and five in his first nine. The power came and went, but the 25-year-old was remarkably consistent at the plate throughout.
Splitting time between right field and DH, and batting second or third in the order, the left-handed hitter did not have any month when his batting average was below .250 and just one when his OPS was under .729. Most importantly, even though he dealt with injuries, including a fractured rib, he was able to appear in 133 games, which was almost as many as he played in his three minor-league seasons combined.
He led the Guardians in batting average, OPS, and doubles, and was second in hits, home runs, and RBIs. DeLauter also did not make an error in 68 outfield appearances.
Starting pitchers Parker Messick and Gavin Williams, and closer Cade Smith, were also worthy of consideration for Guardians MVP with very strong seasons on the mound. Shortstop Brayan Rocchio had a breakout year at the plate, outfielder Steven Kwan had one of the best second halves in the majors, and outfielder Angel Martinez and second baseman Travis Bazzana showed signs of their potential.
But DeLauter was the Guardians’ best player from start to finish, which is why he makes a good choice for their MVP.
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