Why Chase DeLauter is poised for a breakout season with the Guardians in 2026

It’s still hard to believe we saw Chase DeLauter make his MLB debut last postseason. 

After not appearing in a game during the MLB regular season due to a variety of injuries, the Guardians pulled the DeLauter ripcord ahead of the American League Wild Card Series, making him the sixth player in baseball history to make his debut in the postseason. 

In the end, DeLauter went 1-for-6 at the plate across two games with a walk and strikeout while seeing time in both center and right field. 

Now, after an offseason filled with offensive inaction, it seems like the Guardians are ready to give DeLauter more of a chance to be an everyday outfielder in 2026, which should be good news for Guardians fans. 

We got even more reinforcement of that idea last week when MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins highlighted DeLauter as the Guardians’ prospect to watch for 2026.

Chase DeLauter is poised for a big season with the Guardians in 2026 

Prior to being called up to the bigs last season, DeLauter slashed .278/.383/.476 in 34 games at Triple-A last season to go along with five home runs and 24 RBI. His season got off to a bit of a rocky start after he suffered a sports hernia injury in spring training that required core muscle surgery that kept him out of game action until May. 

The Guardians elected to slow-play DeLauter once he returned, as he didn’t play in four consecutive games until the beginning of July. 

That ended up being what looked to be the beginning of the end, however, as DeLauter underwent right hamate surgery at the end of July to address wrist soreness. At the time, it looked like that injury would prevent DeLauter from making his MLB debut until 2027, which kind of sums up the first three years of his professional career. 

While DeLauter has all the talent in the world, he hasn’t been able to stay on the field due to injury. And although that’s still a fear given his track record, the Guardians’ front office’s aggressive approach with DeLauter last season postseason is a tangible example of how much they seem to be changing their approach around the 24-year-old rookie. 

Steven Kwan is entrenched in left field, but the Guardians still have two key vacancies in center field and right field — and it looks like DeLauter will get as good of a chance as anyone to fill either of those vacancies. 

Last week The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported the Guardians were interested in adding outfield additions so long as they don’t stand in the way of young players like DeLauter or George Valera, and the front office has stuck to that mantra so far that offseason. 

The Guardians’ lone offensive addition so far this offseason has been bringing in Stuart Fairchild on a minor league deal. While Fairchild is also an outfielder, it’s more likely that they’d use him as a platoon option with DeLauter.

But regardless of how the platoon usage goes, it looks like DeLauter will enter spring training with a great chance to make the Opening Day roster. That’s the right long-term decision for the future of the franchise.