The folks at MLB Pipeline are among the most respected prospects analysts in the baseball universe.
Since baseball never really stops even when there is no MLB season, they made a cool preview of one of the most exciting awards in the league: the Rookie of the Year.
They identified one Rookie of the Year candidate on each team for the upcoming 2025 campaign.
Who is your club's best 2025 Rookie of the Year candidate?
Here's one for each organization: https://t.co/2RnS13CRea pic.twitter.com/nUnwf8nkHV
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 27, 2024
The Cleveland Guardians candidate isn’t really surprising if you follow their system, or this site for that matter: outfielder Chase DeLauter.
“Foot and leg injuries have slowed DeLauter’s progress since he became the first first-round pick from James Madison (16th overall in 2022), but he’ll be a franchise cornerstone if he can stay healthy. Few prospects can match his package of size (6-foot-3, 235 pounds), athleticism, performance and plate discipline,” they wrote.
The aforementioned injuries robbed most of the season from him, but he managed to get the most of his playing time by slashing .261/.341/.500 with eight homers in 39 games between three levels (mostly in Double-A).
He then proceeded to enjoy another successful stint in the Arizona Fall League, where he ranked as the No. 2 prospect.
Depending on the Guardians’ offseason moves, DeLauter may or may not have a chance at winning over the team’s trust and make the team out of camp.
The talent is there for him to make his mark as early as 2025, and if he is not ready for MLB ball at the moment, he sure is very, very close.
DeLauter is the Guardians future in the outfield and profiles as an everyday player with the ability to hit close to .300 with 20-homer power.
He sure is the most likely player on the team to win the AL ROY award next year.
NEXT: Guardians Injured Reliever Could Add More Depth To MLB-Best Bullpen In 2025
