Guardians' Chase DeLauter should get called up to the major leagues

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Throughout the Cleveland Guardians farm system, talent sits, waiting for its chance to showcase what it has to offer in the big leagues. One name the MLB needs to be aware of is Chase DeLauter, a true definition of uprising talent in the baseball scene. While still being a youngster, he is widely considered as the strength-filled power hitter the Guardians' organization has been craving for in recent years.

The team opted to take DeLauter in the 2022 MLB Draft with the team's 16th overall selection. At the time, he was coming off a broken foot, so the chance of such an injury was apparent. At the collegiate level, he thrived. Over the course of four seasons, DeLauter knocked 103 hits, 27 doubles, four triples, and 15 home runs. His power helped lead his team to a number of wins as he found 70 RBIs.

The biggest piece to his game: his lack of strikeouts.

When batters are crushing the ball at the rate that DeLauter has, an often glaring downside is the number of strikeouts. However, he recorded just 45 over the course of his collegiate career, showcasing a knack for plate vision. With tremendous power, the Guardians took a chance on him to translate at the professional level, which he did nearly instantly.

Making the most of limited oppurtunites

In the 6-foot-4 outfielder's first season, the 2022 campaign, he did not compete for the team due to recovery from his previously broken foot. While for most, the curve when returning from a foot injury is slow and tedious, DeLauter started to thrive when he was finally able to participate.

After going through surgery yet again in January of 2023, he debuted with the team in the Arizona Complex League. He would work his way back into the swing of things before being promoted to the Lake County Captains and Akron RubberDucks.

Whether it was Single-A or Double-A, the competition difference was not apparent in his game as both levels came easy with the swing of his bat. Through 214 at-bats, he was able to record 76 hits and five home runs. Of his 76 hits, he found 39 RBIs and a .355 batting average.

To kickoff the 2024 campaign, he took a spotlight in spring training.

Alongside his professionalism on the field which makes him look like an experienced veteran, he continued to hit and field at a high level. Those attributes help to keep him composed at the plate and poised in the outfield. In the 2024 offseason, DeLauter specified one area that he attempted to improve upon was hitting off lefties. If he is able to hit at a consistent level from both right-handed pitchers and lefties, he is going to be a nuisance for the opposition to combat.

So why does he deserve an oppurtunity on the major league roster?

To put it simply, the Cleveland Guardians' major league roster is in need of someone who can go the distance at the plate on any given night.

While the team does have the likes of Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor, giving those two a break with outfield hitting power would be a nice relief. Currently, in the outfield, the team has trotted out Will Brennan, Steven Kwan, Ramón Laureano, Estevan Florial, Tyler Freeman, and Gabriel Arias. Although all six have been able to find success at the plate, none can consistently hit with power.

The team's No. 1 prospect would be a nice relief to the outfield core to play into their strengths instead of trying to make up for the lack of hitting strength. Not only can the hitting power be provided, but he is also an admirable fielder.

With the concerns for center field being apparent, the most viable option moves Steven Kwan into center, the others into left field, and DeLauter into right field. The Guardians previously utilized Oscar Gonzalez, who now is with the New York Yankees, as a power-hitter in right field. However, just like the team's recent track record, their fix for a power-hitter did not last long with Gonzalez.

The Cleveland Guardians has found early-season success against both the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics, but with more high-scoring opponents coming soon, the team needs to be prepared.

Chase DeLauter has the answer to all of the Guardians' hitting concerns, plain and simple.