Guardians Chase DeLauter Named Silver Slugger Finalist After Breakout Year

After a special season for the Cleveland Guardians, star outfielder Chase DeLauter has been named as a finalist for the American League Silver Slugger Award.

DeLauter, a rookie in 2026, was a key part of the Guardians' offense this past season, helping the team reach the ALCS. The star outfielder will now have to wait to see if he ends up winning the honor.

DeLauter made his MLB debut this season, putting on a show throughout the year for the Guardians. The team desperately needed his bat throughout the season, and the outfielder delivered time and time again for Cleveland.

For the season, DeLauter hit .287 with 16 home runs, 67 RBIs, 60 walks drawn, and 11 stolen bases, while posting an OPS of .820 over 133 games played. The slugger showed patience at the plate, which may have been the most impressive part of his game.

In the postseason, the rookie hit .310 with one home run and six RBIs over 11 games for Cleveland, continuing his success. The Guardians were very high on what DeLauter could accomplish this season, but even the team was pleasantly surprised by how productive he was for them.

This nomination as a finalist for the Silver Slugger proves how special of a player DeLauter is, even after just one year in the big leagues. His bat gives the Guardians a quality player for the middle of the lineup going forward.

Following the breakout year, there has been some talk about the Guardians trying to sign him to an extension. Cleveland has shown a willingness to sign young players to long deals, and DeLauter could be next in line.

Given that the Guardians don't typically look to spend heavily on many players in free agency, inking the star now could make sense. The last thing that Cleveland wants to do is have DeLauter go through high-salaried arbitration down the line, only for him to leave in free agency, or ask to be traded.

If the team can come to terms with DeLauter this offseason, it could be beneficial for both sides going forward. The Guardians would love DeLauter to be part of the organization for years to come, and the slugger may be open to remaining in Cleveland.

With the success that the team saw this past season, keeping the group together makes sense as the organization goes after a World Series title. But for now, DeLauter will have to wait to see how this plays out, while looking forward to potentially being named a Silver Slugger.