Notable outfield prospect receives non-roster invite to Guardians Spring Training

The Cleveland Guardians have announced their non-roster invites, and there are two players in particular who might be able to provide a solution to a longstanding problem. Chase DeLauter has received a non-roster invite to Spring Training and has the opportunity to make Cleveland's outfield look a lot more encouraging on Opening Day.

Cleveland has one true everyday outfielder in Steven Kwan, with the center and right field being comprised of a group who are best suited to be in part-time/platoon roles. Finding another full-time outfielder before the season starts would make it a lot easier to envision this team having success in 2025.

DeLauter is Cleveland's second-ranked prospect, behind only last year's first overall pick in the MLB June Amateur Draft Travis Bazzana, according to MLB Pipeline. The 23-year-old outfielder slashed .261/.342/.500 with 10 doubles and eight home runs in 39 games across three levels of Cleveland's minor league system in 2024, including a six-game stint with the Columbus Clippers toward the end of last season.

During his first two years in the Guardians' organization, DeLauter has found success at every step along the way. DeLauter has .317/.387/.517 slash line with 32 doubles and 13 home runs with 63 RBI in 96 career games. The rate of success has fluctuated somewhat at his numerous stops in the minors, but being able to be productive every step of the way is encouraging for what he might be able to accomplish in the majors once he gets his chance.

While there is clear upside with DeLauter, injuries have been a recurring theme throughout his career, dating back to his days at James Madison University. This could pose a problem to his chances of being the everyday outfielder the Guardians require. If he manages to stay healthy, it could allow the part-timers to settle into appropriate roles rather than being unnecessarily over-utilized.