That disastrous Saturday is still punishing the Cleveland Guardians. The team has now placed three players on the injured list with ailments resulting from that game against the Detroit Tigers.
The first one was Jose Ramirez, who will be out for 5-7 weeks with a left hamate bone fracture. Then, on Tuesday, Angel Martinez was placed on the injured list with a non-displaced left foot fracture.
On Wednesday, Chase DeLauter joined them on the injured list. He had left Saturday’s affair after crashing into the outfield wall during the first inning. He has a fracture, too.
“Guardians place Chase DeLauter on the injured list with a rib fracture. OF Kahlil Watson brought up,” team insider Tom Withers posted on X.
Guardians place Chase DeLauter on injured list with rib fracture. OF Kahlil Watson brought up.
— Tom Withers (@twithersCLE) June 17, 2026
That Saturday game has the potential to shape the Guardians’ season, at least in the short-term. Two of those injured players will be out for over a month, and there’s still no word on how long DeLauter will miss.
It was initially thought that the rookie outfielder would try to play through the pain, but the team correctly considered his long injury history and decided to play it safe.
DeLauter, one of the hottest hitters in the first week of the season, had cooled off some but has still posted an above-average offensive line. He is sporting a 110 wRC+, seven home runs, and 34 RBI in his debut campaign, giving the Guardians a building block for the future with considerable present value.
Watson has been solid in Triple-A Columbus and is deserving of his first shot in MLB. The 23-year-old lefty hitter is slashing a cool .255/.370/.491 with a 126 wRC+, 12 home runs, and 15 stolen bases. He is known for his power-speed potential and ability to draw walks, and even though strikeouts are a problem for him, he has made strides on that front.
Watson is a former first-round pick, taken in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins. He has potential and pedigree, and will get a long look while the injured trio recovers.
The Guardians are hoping DeLauter’s absence isn’t too long, but at this time, there aren’t many details about a potential return timeframe.
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