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Chase DeLauter's MLB debut in Game 2 emblematic of his journey to Guardians | Opinion
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- Chase DeLauter's MLB debut in Game 2 emblematic of his journey to Guardians | Opinion
Editor's note: Follow Guardians vs. Tigers live updates and highlights from Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series .
CLEVELAND — Of all the times Chase DeLauter dreamed about his Major League Baseball debut , he never imagined it would happen in the playoffs .
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Nevertheless, it occurred in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series between the Guardians and Detroit Tigers , and DeLauter's left arm provided a turning point in Cleveland's 6-1 triumph on Oct. 1 at Progressive Field.
With the victory , the AL Central Division champion Guardians avoided elimination, tied the series 1-1 and forced a winner-take-all Game 3 . It's scheduled to begin at 3:08 p.m. Oct. 2 in Cleveland .
Guardians rewarded for using Chase DeLauter in Game 2, even though he had never previously played in MLB
Don't be stunned if the Guardians count on DeLauter to deliver again in a pressure-packed environment. The franchise deserves credit for boldly turning to DeLauter to create a spark in a tense spot. He became the sixth player in MLB's modern era and the first in Cleveland baseball history to debut in a postseason game. He also started in center field for the first time since Aug. 15, 2024, when he played for the Double-A Akron RubberDucks.
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"That was an unbelievable debut," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "I thought everything about it was great."
The Guardians wouldn't be in this position without Vogt's contagious optimism, but let's be honest about something. Not everything about DeLauter's first game at the sport's highest level was great. It began with a defensive nightmare in center field. Later, DeLauter redeemed himself, making his entrance into the majors both poetic and emblematic of his journey.
Cleveland Guardians center fielder Chase DeLauter’s MLB debut patch is seen on his shoulder as he warms up before Game 2 of the American League wild card series at Progressive Field, Oct. 1, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Chase DeLauter began MLB debut with Cleveland Guardians by committing an error in center field
With the sun shining during a day game, DeLauter lost a fly ball hit by Gleyber Torres in the first inning. So, DeLauter dropped the first ball hit to him in MLB, resulting in an error and allowing Parker Meadows to advance to second base after he led off with a single.
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"When that ball hit the ground, I was in shambles right away," DeLauter said. "You never want that to happen [in] any situation, especially in a playoff game.
"I played the sun wrong. I kind of let the ball get into the middle of it. [I] wasn't able to get it out of it until the very last second, and, unfortunately, I didn't come down with it."
Cleveland Guardians center fielder Chase DeLauter drops a fly ball against the Detroit Tigers in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series on Oct. 1, 2025, in Cleveland.
Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee 's encouragement helped Chase DeLauter shake off ball he lost in sun
With runners on first and second base and no outs, Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee bailed out DeLauter by striking out the next three batters to escape the jam unscathed. Then, in the dugout, DeLauter apologized to Bibee for the error, and Bibee assured DeLauter he didn't need to worry.
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"It was battling the sun and the wind," Bibee said. "It's not an easy play. He dropped it. But it doesn't matter because I feel like even if that run did score, it wouldn't have mattered because it's just a hard play and one of those things where I'm going to have your back and, eventually, you're going to get my back as well."
Cleveland's No. 2 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, DeLauter had Bibee's back in the fourth inning.
Cleveland Guardians center fielder Chase DeLauter (34) gets under a fly ball hit deep by Detroit Tigers right fielder Wenceel Perez during the second inning of Game 2 of the American League wild card series at Progressive Field, Oct. 1, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Chase DeLauter's outfield assist on a throw to third base changed Game 2 of the Guardians-Tigers series
With the bases loaded, Tigers No. 9 hitter Javier Baez grounded a single to center field. Riley Greene ran home to tie the score 1-1. DeLauter charged the ball in the outfield and made a tremendous throw to perennial All-Star Jose Ramirez at third base. Initially, the umpire crew called Zach McKinstry safe at third, meaning the Tigers would take a 2-1 lead because Detroit's Dillon Dingler had run home.
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However, Cleveland's challenge of the play at third base resulted in an overturned call. A replay review showed Ramirez had tagged McKinstry before McKinstry touched third base and before Dingler had crossed home plate. McKinstry was ruled out, and Dingler's run didn't count. Instead of a 2-1 Tigers lead, the score was tied 1-1.
"It was a huge moment," DeLauter said. "Every pitch is massive in these games, and that's why the first inning kind of shook me a little bit.
"But then at the same time, I make that throw, you hear the crowd, Hosey daps me up after. It's a good feeling. You feel like you're impacting a must-win game, and I think that's what every player dreams for."
Guardians center fielder Chase DeLauter heads back to the dugout before Game 2 of the American League wild card series, Oct. 1, 2025, in Cleveland.
Guardians players praised Chase DeLauter for his inning-ending outfield assist vs. Tigers
Guardians two-time All-Star left fielder Steven Kwan said DeLauter looked "like a guy who's played in the league for 10 years" when he recorded the outfield assist.
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A glimpse of the future outfield the Guardians hope to have was on display with George Valera playing right field alongside DeLauter. Valera offered this assessment of DeLauter's highlight throw from center: "He's capable of doing those plays and even more spectacular ones."
Guardians news: Slade Cecconi will start Game 3 after Guardians beat Tigers in Game 2
The momentum shifted toward the Guardians with DeLauter's throw, and they eventually broke through with a five-run eighth inning. A solo home run by Brayan Rocchio , back-to-back doubles by Kwan and Daniel Schneemann and a three-run homer by Bo Naylor provided much-needed fireworks.
At the plate, DeLauter went 0-for-2 and drew a walk in the second inning. He grounded out in the fifth and lined out to center field in the seventh. On defense, he switched from center to right field in the seventh.
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"His at-bats were outstanding," Vogt said. "He could have easily let that play in the first inning rattle him and take him out of the rest of the day."
Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter takes off his gear after being walked at his first MLB at-bat during the second inning of Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series on Oct. 1, 2025, in Cleveland.
Guardians takeaways: 'Playoff Rocchio,' a young outfield and stellar bullpen in Game 2
What further illustrates DeLauter's mettle is he hadn't played in a real game since July 11 with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. A right hamate fracture and subsequent surgery on July 23 sidelined him. The Guardians placed him on their taxi squad on Sept. 29 and on their wild-card roster on Sept. 30.
The organization decided the risk of throwing DeLauter into the postseason fire coming off injury would be worth the potential reward. To reiterate, not only did DeLauter complete a comeback from surgery and make his MLB debut in a playoff game, but he also started in center field for the first time in more than a year.
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" Lane Thomas goes down [due to injury]. We have injuries to relievers. We have David Fry get hit in the face with a fastball," Vogt said. "We've had to do some really uncomfortable things all year. Why stop now?"
The 16th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, DeLauter has been on the injured list six times during his professional career, including three in 2023 with foot, toe and hamstring issues. In addition to undergoing wrist surgery in July, he had core muscle surgery on March 4.
This is why Game 2 can be viewed as a microcosm of DeLauter's career. Adversity struck, but he still managed to flash brilliance.
Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter bats during the second inning against the Detroit Tigers in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series on Oct. 1, 2025, in Cleveland.
DeLauter, who will turn 24 on Oct. 8, had family and friends in attendance for his debut. Guardians fans embraced him, especially after he atoned for his first-inning error with his fourth-inning dart.
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Schneemann conceded he remembers how nervous he felt during his MLB debut last year, and it unfolded in a regular-season game in early June, not amid a do-or-die playoff scenario. Schneemann also explained he couldn't tell in recent days whether DeLauter experiences butterflies because he possesses such an even-keeled demeanor.
The Guardians knew their personnel, and, in the case of DeLauter, it worked to their advantage on a grand stage.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com . On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians' Chase DeLauter redeems himself with Game 2 outfield assist
