The Cleveland Guardians had recently promoted star outfield prospect Chase DeLauter from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus after catching fire at the plate.
The players has only a handful of games at the doorstep of the majors, yet he is already impressing with a 185 wRC+.
For those who don’t know, that number means he has been 85 percent better than the league-average hitter at the level, which is nothing short of amazing.
However, and just when his name was starting to appear as a possibility to be called up to Cleveland, he suffered an injury on Thursday that will keep him out, at the very least, for a few days.
“#Guardians minor league transactions. OF Chase DeLauter placed on the 7-day IL at Columbus (Right hamstring strain). RHP Nic Enright activated off the 7-day IL at Columbus,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.
#Guardians minor league transactions
OF Chase DeLauter placed on the 7-day IL at Columbus (Right hamstring strain)
RHP Nic Enright activated off the 7-day IL at Columbus
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) August 30, 2024
DeLauter apparently suffered the injury in the ninth inning after reaching on an error:
https://twitter.com/CleGuardPro/status/1828979252001223079I
He had hit an inside-the-park home run to open the game.
t’s truly a shame, because he was slashing an incredible .304/.407/.739 with two home runs in six games since making his debut at the level.
Cleveland is currently giving too many at-bats to struggling hitters such as Tyler Freeman and Will Brennan, two outfielders who could potentially make room for DeLauter.
That will have to wait now, though, and will depend on his evolution.
He already injured list stints with a fractured foot and a turf toe earlier in the season.
Despite de physical issues, DeLauter has proved he belongs whenever he has been healthy.
There are not many details about his ailment and whether or not he can make it back this year, but if he isn’t in Cleveland this year, he has a strong chance to make his MLB debut at some point in the first half of 2025.
NEXT: Guardians Prospect Keeps Pushing For MLB Playing Time
