Chase DeLauter's earns well-deserved accolade after incredible start for Guardians

On Sunday, we found out Chase DeLauter is human when he went 1-for-3 against the Mariners.

While most rookies who be happy with that kind of output in their fourth career regular season game, DeLauter isn't like most rookies.

Not only did DeLauter make history by making his MLB debut in lat year's postseason, but that output also marked the first regular season game of his career where he didn't hit a longball.

In total, DeLauter finished the week with a .353/.353/.1.059 slashline with a league-leading four home runs and five RBI.

He earned a well-deserved accolade for that performance on Monday when it was announced that he was named the American League Player of the Week thanks to his record-setting performance.

Chase DeLauter named Player of the Week after scorching hot start for Guardians

DeLauter wasted no time making han impression by homering in his first official MLB at-bat, making him the sixth player in Guardians history to do so. He added another home run in the ninth inning, giving him a multi-homer game in his first career regular season game.

He added a solo home run in the first inning of the second game of the series before mashing a huge home run against Andrés Muñoz in the ninth inning of Saturday's game.

DeLauter became the first Guardian to win the award since Steven Kwan did so in 2022 along with becoming the first Cleveland player to win the award in the first week of the season since Albert Belle in 1995.

DeLauter's regular season debut was a long time coming considering how much of his career with impacted by injuries.

He's done nothing but hit when he's been on the field since the Guardians drafted him in the first round of 2022, but there was always an injury that popped up that stopped that ascent.

But the Guardians were aggressive in promoting him in last year's postseason, and they kept that aggression going in 2026 by adding him to the Opening Day roster this season.

The biggest question now with DeLauter will be whether he'll be able to stay healthy enough to stay in the Guardians' lineup everyday.

He split his time at right field and designated hitter against the Mariners, and served at DH once again in Cleveland's series opener against the Dodgers on Monday.

Not only has DeLauter's strong start helped him, but it's also helped Steven Kwan and José Ramírez since it provides them with some insurance behind and in front of them, respectively.

Even though DeLauter will eventually fall back to earth at some point, he's already proven how good he can be thanks to his record-setting performance.

He's already won one award thanks to performance with the bat, and it's hard to believe this will be the last. The sky's the limit from here on out.