Chase DeLauter’s bases-clearing triple in the eighth inning on Tuesday night was the moment everyone saw. What most people did not see was everything that went into getting him to that moment.
DeLauter had just endured one of the tougher stretches of his young career. After earning American League Player of the Week honors following a scorching opening series in Seattle, he hit just .179 over his next 17 games and went 0-12 heading into Tuesday’s contest against Houston. That kind of cold spell could shake a player’s confidence in a hurry.
It did not shake DeLauter’s. And a big part of the reason why has everything to do with who he has been leaning on inside that clubhouse.
The young outfielder was open about exactly where he turns when things get difficult, naming Steven Kwan, Austin Hedges, and Rhys Hoskins.
“I like to go to the older guys, you know, [Steven] Kwan, Hedgie, the guys that have been around the game a long time, Rhys [Hoskins], and just kind of hear what they have to say and get some thoughts from them. Those guys that just have wise words, man, and [are] just smart. Have been around it forever,” DeLauter said.
#Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter on guys he has leaned into during the past few weeks:
"I like to go to the older guys, you know, Kwan, Hedgie, the guys that have been around the game a long time, Rhys, and just kind of hear what they have to say and get some thoughts from…
— Cade Cracas (@CracasCade) April 22, 2026
Kwan is the homegrown success story. The left-handed outfielder has developed into one of the better on-base threats in the American League, a player who understands the strike zone as well as anyone on the roster and has built his game around the kind of disciplined approach that serves hitters well through cold stretches.
Hedges brings something different. The veteran catcher has been around the game long enough to have seen everything, and his value to a young roster goes far beyond what he does behind the plate.
Hoskins is the newest addition to that group, and his inclusion is a reminder of just how important that signing has been beyond the stat line. The first baseman came to Cleveland with over a decade of professional experience and a reputation as a quality teammate and clubhouse presence.
DeLauter went out and delivered the biggest hit of Tuesday’s game hours after those conversations. That is not a coincidence. That is what good veterans do for young players, and it is what good organizations build intentionally when they put rosters together.
The Guardians have always prided themselves on culture. Tuesday night was a reminder of why that matters.
NEXT: Guardians May Have To Make A Move Very Soon With Gabriel Arias
