The Cleveland Guardians have placed their top outfield prospect, Chase DeLauter, on the roster for their Wild Card series against the Detroit Tigers. This move was first hinted at by Zack Meisel of The Athletic and confirmed by Guardians Prospective. With an existing spot on the 40-man roster, Cleveland was able to add DeLauter without any additional roster adjustments.
This would mark the 23-year-old’s inaugural appearance in Major League Baseball if he participates in a game. While unusual, it’s not unprecedented for top prospects to join a postseason roster without prior major league experience, as seen with Alex Kirilloff of the Twins in 2020 and Adalberto Mondesi during the 2015 World Series with the Royals. For Game 1, Cleveland’s outfield will feature Steven Kwan, Angel Martínez, and Johnathan Rodriguez.
DeLauter’s debut could occur later in the series, especially with Detroit likely to use right-handed pitchers like Jack Flaherty or Casey Mize. The young left-hander has shown better performance against right-handed pitching historically and could provide a strategic advantage. During an injury-limited 2025 season, DeLauter delivered a .278/.383/.476 slash line at Triple-A, reaffirming his potential as a high-caliber player.
Selected in the first round from James Madison University in 2022, DeLauter overcame sports hernia surgery and a hamate fracture to maintain a promising career .302/.384/.504 minor league performance. His presence on the postseason roster, despite not accruing major league service time, suggests a potential spot in the Opening Day lineup next season.
Cleveland’s outfield prospects are fluid apart from Steven Kwan, presenting DeLauter with opportunities to secure either a center or right field position, contingent on the team’s offseason decisions. The Guardians aim to control DeLauter’s contract through the 2031 season, with opportunities for future benefits like draft picks based on pre-arbitration performance.
For now, DeLauter and the Guardians are focused on a strong playoff run after clinching the division title in a historic comeback, overcoming a 9.5-game deficit late in the season to overtake the Tigers. This development sets a hopeful precedent for the team and its promising young talent.