The wait is finally over!

Not only is Chase DeLauter with the team, but the organization’s No. 2-ranked prospect is on the Cleveland Guardians' playoff roster for the Wild Card series against the Detroit Tigers.

Fans are likely very familiar with DeLauter at this point, considering he’s been one of the polarizing prospects in baseball since he was selected in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft.

Before DeLauter makes his Guardians and MLB debut, here are a few things to expect from the elite young outfielder.

DeLatuer Has A Lot Of Pop In His Swing

DeLauter has long been one of the top hitters throughout the Cleveland farm system, finding success at the plate at every level he’s appeared at.

During his three-year minor league career, DeLauter has recorded a .302/.384/.504 slash line with an OPS of .888. In 2025 at Triple-A, he boasted an OPS of .859, including eight doubles and five home runs, in just 34 games (126 at-bats).

It’s not just that the count numbers are solid for Chase, but he also hits the ball hard.

In his short stint at Triple-A in 2025, the 23-year-old had a hard-hit rate of 51.9% and a max exit velocity of 110.1 mph.

Sure, it could take time for DeLauter to adjust to big-league pitching, but the Guardians need a power threat in their lineup to make a deep October run, and he could be just that. 

DeLauter Makes A Ton Of Contact

For a player with as much pop as DeLauter has, one may expect him to also swing and miss quite a bit, but that isn’t the case for the prospect.

DeLauter has always been a patient hitter and is extremely selective with the pitches he wants to swing at. This patience has led to a career minor league strikeouts rate of just 16% (15% at Triple-A in 2025).

The left-hander has an unorthodox swing, which has caused some scouts to be concerned about how he could transition to the big leagues. However, for now, it has worked for DeLauter, as evident in the number of contacts he makes.

What Position Will DeLauter Play?

DeLauter is a natural outfielder; he’s quick and has a solid arm for someone of his size. 

Even though he’s capable of playing any of the outfield positions, DeLauter’s injury history could force the Guardians to keep him on the right side of the field or simply let him hit during the playoff run.

The 23-year-old has only played right field this minor league season, but has played all three throughout his career. 

Since DeLauter’s debut is coming at a unique time, being in the postseason, there’s a good chance that he won’t even play a full nine-inning game until 2026, so the Guardians could be a little more open-minded about where he plays in the field.