The Cleveland Guardians have a need for outfielders or a surplus of them, depending on the perspective.
Can’t-miss, starting-caliber outfielders?
Well they have Steven Kwan.
Guys with prior success at the MLB level?
You can add Ramon Laureano to the list.
Defensive specialists?
You have Myles Straw.
Promising guys with starting-caliber potential?
Here is where the list gets long: Estevan Florial, Johnathan Rodriguez, Will Brennan, George Valera, Jhonkensy Noel, and Chase DeLauter all have a promising future but are either too young or too unproven.
DeLauter, in particular, is highly unlikely to make the team out of camp.
However, he is extremely talented, and once he gets to the majors, he will likely make an immediate impact.
Just look at this swing:
“Chase DeLauter. CRUSHED,” MLB Pipeline tweeted, with a video of a pulled home run that went out in a hurry during a spring training game.
Chase DeLauter. CRUSHED 🤯 pic.twitter.com/qShVO2So7T
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 27, 2024
Yes, that ball was crushed.
DeLauter doesn’t have a conventional swing, but it definitely works for him.
It helped him hit .286/.447/.500 at the Complex League, .366/.403/.549 in High-A, and .364/.464/.409 in Double-A last season.
DeLauter knows the strike zone and makes a lot of contact: he rarely strikes out and that’s definitely a plus.
Once his game power fully develops, we might be talking about an All-Star player.
The Guardians will definitely be patient with him, but they know they have an elite talent in the lefty-swinging outfielder.
There is a chance we see him in Cleveland at some point in 2024, but 2025 is his more likely estimated time of arrival.
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