The national media is starting to take notice of what Chase DeLauter is doing in Cleveland, and one prominent analyst is already calling him the player who could determine whether this season ends in October or not.
Writing in The Athletic’s MLB Power Rankings for week two of the season, Johnny Flores singled out DeLauter as the early difference maker for the Guardians and backed it up with historical context that puts the young outfielder in truly rare company.
“Early difference-maker: Chase DeLauter. Only one player (Trevor Story, seven) has hit more home runs in their first seven career regular season games than DeLauter and his five longballs. He is tied with Rece Hinds (2024) and Mark Quinn (1999) for the second most in MLB history since 1900. That’s just the kind of start DeLauter has had to his MLB career. The power numbers (95.6 mph Average Exit Velocity, 21.1 percent Barrel Rate, 57.9 percent Hard Hit Rate) are legit, and with Cleveland almost certainly having to contend with another largely mediocre offense, DeLauter can be the difference between an AL Central title push and an early vacation,” Flores wrote.
Five home runs in his first seven career regular-season games. That number alone is impressive.
Austin Hedges compared DeLauter’s presence to what teammates felt around a young Jose Ramirez. The analytics now back up what the veteran catcher sensed in the clubhouse. The power is real, and the ceiling on what this player can become is something Cleveland has not seen from a position prospect in a very long time.
The Guardians have spent years building a winning culture around elite pitching. If DeLauter can be the middle of the order force this team has been missing, it changes the outlook entirely for what Cleveland is capable of accomplishing in the AL Central and beyond.
The difference between a division title and an early exit often comes down to one or two players who elevate a roster from good to dangerous. For the 2026 Guardians, Chase DeLauter is already making that case two weeks into the season.
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