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Rookie Outfielder Earns Spot on Guardians Playoff Roster
30 Sep
Summary
- Chase DeLauter, a 24-year-old outfielder, included on Guardians' Wild Card roster
- DeLauter had injuries earlier this year, including core muscle surgery and wrist surgery
- DeLauter could be the first player to debut in the postseason since 2020
In a surprising move, the Cleveland Guardians have included 24-year-old outfielder Chase DeLauter on their roster for the upcoming Wild Card Series against the Detroit Tigers. DeLauter, who was selected 16th in the 2022 amateur draft, has no major league experience but has been tearing it up in the minors.
Despite being sidelined by injuries for much of this year, including core muscle surgery and a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist, DeLauter has shown promise. He hit .278 with five homers and 21 RBIs in 34 games at Triple-A Columbus. Now, the Guardians are giving him a chance to make his MLB debut on the biggest stage.
If DeLauter does take the field, he could become the first player to debut in the postseason since 2020, when Tampa Bay's Shane McClanahan, San Diego's Ryan Weathers, and Minnesota's Alex Kiriloff all accomplished the feat. The Guardians are hoping DeLauter's bat can provide a spark as they look to upset the Tigers in the best-of-three series.
