The Cleveland Guardians had their No. 2 prospect on the field on Wednesday.
Chase DeLauter became just the sixth player in Major League Baseball history to make his season debut in the playoffs.
And while he had a head-scratching error and dropped an easy out, he still made a strong impression.
As reported by Sarah Langs on X, the star outfield prospect showcased his strong arm in his debut:
“92.1 mph throw from Chase DeLauter in his MLB debut. That’s the Guardians’ 4th-fastest tracked outfield assist of 2025 (reg+post),” Langs posted on X.
92.1 mph throw from Chase DeLauter in his MLB debut
That’s the Guardians’ 4th-fastest tracked outfield assist of 2025 (reg+post) https://t.co/XqCz92Gv2E
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 1, 2025
DeLauter was projected to be a factor this season.
However, injuries got in the way of the plans and his development again.
When asked about the unusual decision to have him not only on the roster but actually playing and starting, manager Stephen Vogt pointed to his impressive offensive prowess.
He claimed that they needed some hitting, and DeLauter had found plenty of success in that regard in all his previous stops as a player.
He couldn’t get his first career hit in his debut, but he still managed to get on base by drawing a walk.
The Guardians will now take the field for a win-or-go-home game, and DeLauter will reportedly be batting fifth, right behind Kyle Manzardo.
Vogt will trust George Valera, C.J. Kayfus, and DeLauter in the most important game of the season.
That speaks volumes about the level of confidence this organization has in its youngsters.
And regardless of what happens on Thursday and in the rest of the playoffs, the fans have to feel quite excited about this team and what’s to come in the next couple of years.
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