How Chase DeLauter has become one of MLB's most exciting rookies
Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter has crushed MLB pitching in his first seven games, lifting a slow-starting lineup on his own.
CLEVELAND — DeLauter-Mania has hit the shores of Lake Erie. The soundtrack for the phenomenon on April 3 was John Denver's " Take Me Home, Country Road s" over the Progressive Field PA system, followed by a few lines sung a cappella by the home crowd, then the crack of the bat. Chase DeLauter 's world-dominating start to what is technically his rookie season surged forward in the Guardians ' 4-1 home-opening win over the Chicago Cubs .
In the fifth inning, it was "Country Roads," then the crowd singing it on their own, and then an RBI single that tied the score 1-1. Two innings later, it was "Country Roads," then the crowd singing it on their own, and then a two-run home run launched into the Cleveland night. "I mean, now just seeing him do it on the big stage, it's as advertised, if not better," said Guardians pitcher Joey Cantillo, who allowed one run in 5⅓ innings with six strikeouts in the win.
"Obviously he has the ability to do that every time he swings the bat, so it's awesome. " Only four players since at least 1900 have hit five home runs in their first seven career regular-season games, according to Sarah Langs : Mark Quinn (1999), Trevor Story (2026), Rece Hinds (2024) and, now, DeLauter. In Cleveland history, he's the first player to hit home runs in four of his first seven career games.
And he's the first hitter to blast home runs in his first regular-season home and away games since Joe Charboneau in 1980. The Guardians threw him into the fire of postseason baseball last year, when he made the Wild Card Series roster. It was a debut that couldn't have been more pressure-packed, though in terms of his rookie season, that began with Opening Day last week.