On October 1, Chase DeLauter finally recorded his first career MLB hit, a moment that felt heavier than a simple box-score footnote. For the Cleveland Guardians, it was the payoff of years of patience, rehab schedules, and cautious optimism. For DeLauter, a 24-year-old former first-round pick whose early career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries, it was proof that he still belongs on baseball’s biggest stage. And now, heading into 2026, that moment may mark the beginning of a much larger shift inside the Guardians’ organization.
DeLauter’s path to that hit was anything but conventional. He became just the sixth player in MLB history to make his debut during the postseason, an extraordinary vote of confidence from a franchise that traditionally avoids risks in October. That decision alone sent a message: the Guardians believe in Chase DeLauter. The question is whether they are ready to back that belief with everyday playing time when the 2026 season opens.
From a roster-construction standpoint, the argument is straightforward. Cleveland’s outfield was a glaring weakness last season. Production was minimal, consistency was nonexistent, and opposing pitchers rarely feared what was coming off the bat from the corners. This offseason, the Guardians did nothing externally to fix that problem. No impact free-agent outfielders were added. In fact, they reduced the pool by designating Jhonkensy Noel for assignment. If change is coming, it has to come from within.
That is where DeLauter fits — not as a luxury, but as a necessity. If the Guardians’ front office truly trusts him, as their postseason decision suggests, then spring training should not be about whether DeLauter can make the Opening Day roster. It should be about where he hits in the lineup.
Yet Cleveland’s outfield picture remains crowded and complicated. DeLauter and George Valera both debuted last season and both appeared in postseason lineups, but that alone guarantees nothing. In a perfect scenario, Valera would handle center field while DeLauter slots into right when the Guardians open their season against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on March 26. That alignment would signal a clear commitment to youth, upside, and internal development. But the Guardians rarely take the perfect path.
Nolan Jones is back in the mix, and despite hitting just .211 across 136 games in 2025, Cleveland tendered him a $2 million contract. That move suggests Jones is very much part of the 2026 plan, whether fans agree or not. Johnathan Rodríguez, meanwhile, has struggled in his first taste of MLB pitching, but his right-handed bat gives him an edge. As the only right-handed hitting outfielder on the 40-man roster, Rodríguez feels almost penciled in by default.
Then there is the depth behind them. Daniel Schneemann, Angel Martínez, Petey Halpin, C.J. Kayfus, and even Johnathan Rodríguez all logged time in the outfield last season. Stuart Fairchild was brought in on a minor league deal, but his path to the roster is steep. Quantity, however, does not equal quality — and that has been Cleveland’s core issue.
What separates DeLauter from the rest is ceiling. Across 138 career minor league games, he’s hit .302, consistently showing a blend of plate discipline, gap power, and athleticism that plays in modern lineups. Injuries have slowed his ascent, yes, but they haven’t erased the tools that made him a first-round pick. If anything, the Guardians’ decision to debut him in October suggests they believe those tools translate immediately.
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Cleveland is open to adding an outfielder — but only if that move does not come at the expense of DeLauter’s playing time. That is a step in the right direction. Still, it may not be enough. Protecting his at-bats is one thing. Building the outfield around him is another.
At some point, development turns into urgency. DeLauter is no longer a prospect to stash; he’s a player the Guardians need to evaluate at full speed. Giving him sporadic starts or a bench role would only delay answers the franchise desperately needs. Cleveland cannot afford another season of outfield ambiguity.
If the Guardians are serious about contending again, about maximizing José Ramírez’s prime and capitalizing on a winnable division, Chase DeLauter must be more than a name on the depth chart. He needs to be in the lineup, every day, from Opening Day forward.
Because if Cleveland hesitates now, they may not just lose games — they may lose the chance to find out what could have been their next cornerstone.
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