The Cleveland Guardians didn’t exactly have the most explosive offense in 2026, as has been the case over the last few years as well. However, a rookie outfielder made sure to put the unit on the map and make a name for himself in the process.
We are talking about none other than Chase DeLauter, who made his MLB debut in the 2025 postseason and earned an everyday role in 2026. Not only did he hold his own, but he became the best hitter on the team.
Now, DeLauter’s explosive debut campaign has been rewarded with a nomination for the AL Silver Slugger Award, according to Cleveland.com. Nine outfielders have been named finalists, and three of them will take home the award.
Chase DeLauter was named one of nine AL outfield finalists for the Silver Slugger after leading Cleveland with a .287 average. His 142 hits and 226 total bases marked a breakout rookie season. pic.twitter.com/bYljSb06Id
— Cleveland Guardians Baseball (@GuardiansTalk) November 5, 2026
The finalists are Wilyer Abreu (Boston Red Sox), Randy Arozarena (Seattle Mariners), Cody Bellinger (New York Yankees), Jac Caglianone (Kansas City Royals), Riley Greene (Detroit Tigers), Tristan Peters (Chicago White Sox), Chandler Simpson (Tampa Bay Rays), Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels), and DeLauter. That’s some pretty good company right there for the first-year outfielder, who showcased bat-to-ball skills, on-base ability, and power against MLB pitching.
In 2026, DeLauter hit a robust .287/.363/.457 with 16 home runs, 30 doubles, three triples, 11 stolen bases, a 131 wRC+, and 3.5 fWAR. In case you were wondering, he was even better under the bright lights of the postseason, slashing a solid .310/.396/.452 with a 139 wRC+ against some of the best pitchers in the world.
DeLauter, the Guardians’ first-round pick in 2022, even took a huge step toward leaving behind a harsh injury-prone label, playing 133 of the 162 games in the regular season calendar and every postseason contest, as well. It was a marvelous rookie campaign for the sweet-swinging lefty, who only visited the injured list once with a rib issue in June.
The sky is the limit for DeLauter, whose vast potential might make him an AL MVP candidate one day. He is already seeing his name among the best offensive outfielders in the junior circuit, and he is just starting to scratch his lofty ceiling.
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