One MLB analyst believes Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter can be a building block for the franchise's future.
The Cleveland Guardians are expecting to have a youth movement in their lineup for the 2026 season, and at the center of that is their No. 2 overall-ranked prospect, Chase DeLauter.
MLB Pipeline released its new top 100 prospect ranking on Friday night, and DeLauter came in at No. 46 on their list. Former big-league general manager turned analyst Steve Phillips took a minute to break down what he sees in DeLauter heading into the 2026 season.
“I'm intrigued by is, Chase DeLauter. We got a taste of him - He hasn't made his major league debut yet - Yet he's already been in the major leagues in the postseason, got called up in that series against the Detroit Tigers, came right into play center field. It was tough, right? Three levels of the stadium, dropped the flyball early, but his at bats at the plate. He looked like he belonged,” Phillips said.
The analyst is spot on with his assessment of DeLauter’s first quick stint with the big-league club. The prospect only has one hit in nine at-bats, but he was in every one of his plate appearances, averaging a little over five pitches per at-bat.
Sometimes, young players have the physical skill set but struggle because they’re swinging at the wrong pitches. That doesn’t look like it’ll be an issue, DeLauter, though it's based on an extremely small sample size.
Oct 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter (34) singles for his first big league hit in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers during game three of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesPhillips did point out the obvious, being DeLauter’s extensive injury history. He even compared the current Guardians prospect to a past Cleveland outfielder who had similar issues over a decade ago.
“He has been hampered by injuries during the course of his career, but a lot of comparisons to Grady Sizemore. He, too, had injuries. I think, a little more power for DeLauder, a little less speed [compared to Sizemore]. But a guy that I think, in the long run, has a chance to be a five-tool player. This is critical for the Guardians, considering they have great pitching. They developed. They need offensive players, and DeLauter could be part of building that future offensive lineup for that team.”
Phillips’ analysis of DeLauter is similar to everyone’s: he has the skill set to be a star in MLB, but must stay healthy. The 2026 season will be the first test of whether DeLauter can do that.
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