Chase DeLauter had a historic performance in his first regular-season game with the Cleveland Guardians.
The Cleveland Guardians have waited a long time to see Chase DeLauter take the field and make his (regular season) MLB debut. Finally, on Opening Day, that moment finally came as the team’s top prospect was in the lineup against the Seattle Mariners.
In just one game, five at-bats, DeLauter showed everyone what the hype was all about with one of the best debuts the club has ever seen. The 24-year-old ended the night by making some incredible franchise history.
In DeLauter’s first at-bat, he smoked a 358-foot home run that left the bat at 102.2. He immediately became the fifth player in franchise history to hit a home run in their first career regular-season at-bat. The other players include Jhonkensy Noel (2024), Kevin Kouzmanoff (2006), Jay Bell (1986), and Earl Averill (1929).
DeLauter could have failed to reach base the rest of the night, and it still would have been a memorable Opening Day, but the 24-year-old didn’t stop there.
In the ninth inning, with the Guardians only up one run, DeLauter hit another homer to give Cleveland a much-needed insurance run.
This moonshot surpassed anything in Cleveland's record books, as DeLauter joined an elite list of players to accomplish the same feat.
The only other players in MLB history to have two home runs in their regular season debut are Trevor Story (2016), J.P Arencibia (2010), Mark Quinn (1999), Bert Campaneris (1964), and Bob Nieman (1951).
Mar 26, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (24) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images“It was incredible,” said Stephen Vogt after the game.
“We saw the kid make his debut in the postseason, not big-eyed. Then, he comes in, Opening Day… For him to come up, get a homer in his first [at-bat] and then get us the insurance run, he's worked extremely hard and he's a very talented player. So, fun to see him have a night like tonight.”
Of course, DeLauter’s big league sample is incredibly small, and he hasn’t played nearly as much as he wanted to in the Minor Leagues because of injuries. That said, DeLauter continues to show elite talent when he’s on the field.
If he can stay healthy, DeLauter has the chance to break many more Clevlenad records during his Guardians career.
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