Story by
'That's the only goal I got': Guardians prospect Chase DeLauter desperate to stay healthy
- Story by
- 'That's the only goal I got': Guardians prospect Chase DeLauter desperate to stay healthy
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Sometimes the No. 1 battle for a player really is to just be on the field.
Before he can work on his swing, before he can potentially factor into the mix in right field , before he can work on his defense or baserunning or anything else, Chase DeLauter has to be there enough to make any of it count.
Advertisement
That hasn't been the case the last few years . So although he'll care about his batting average and OPS and defensive play in the outfield, DeLauter's top goals for 2025 all revolve around the work before and after games in order to keep his name in the lineup.
'Gut punch': Shane Bieber's Tommy John injury was brutal timing but he knows he can return
When asked about what a perfect 2025 season would look like to him, DeLauter shook his head and said, "Playing a full season — that's it. That's the only goal I got. Just staying on the field. Doesn't matter where it's at, who it's for. Just being on the field."
DeLauter is clearly fed up with not being available. He knows it doesn't really matter if he hits a home run every day if he's on the injured list for most of the season.
Chase DeLauter a top Guardians prospect in 2025
DeLauter is one of the top prospects in the Guardians system and a top-40 prospect in baseball ( No. 36 by MLB Pipeline ). He put the league on notice in Cactus League play last year when he had a tremendous spring. The problem? Injuries again derailed nearly his entire 2024 regular season, and he's been stuck in first gear because of it.
Advertisement
In Triple-A last year, DeLauter hit .304 with a 1.147 OPS. Over a larger sample size, those numbers would have demanded his promotion to the major leagues. But that was a minuscule, six-game sample size because of foot and hamstring issues. He also played 30 games for the RubberDucks, but the frustration from another lost season is evident, especially after he had such a strong spring camp in Arizona .
"Probably that I just belong, I feel like I could play with these guys if I go out there and keep myself on the field," DeLauter said when asked what he learned from last year's camp.
What is ABS? 'Learning on the fly': Guardians, MLB to test ABS challenge system in spring training 2025
There's always a catch, that his potential is through the roof — if he can stay on the field. A major part of the team's message to him as camp began was along those lines, that they want to see him take care of himself.
Advertisement
"There's nothing that baseball players want to do more than play [every day]," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "You look around the league and you see these guys that are consistently getting [hurt], it's so frustrating for them, and we empathize with that. And so I think for Chase, it's learning what it takes to have that big body and how to play outfield every single day with that body."
Chase DeLauter 2025 season outlook hinges on health
DeLauter could eventually be the answer for the Guardians in right field. They're likely headed for a committee of sorts, possibly involving a combination of Will Brennan , Jhonkensy Noel , Johnathan Rodriguez and a few others. The hope is one emerges who can handle everyday duties. But, out of all of them, DeLauter carries with him the most potential.
"I'm excited to watch him play again," Vogt said. "We got a little bit of a taste of what Chase is able to do [last spring] and, for him, health is going to be number one. We've seen that through his short minor league career where he's struggled to stay on the field at times, and we all know and believe the player Chase can end up being can make an impact on our major league team."
Advertisement
Lewis: 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot explanation and discussion on Vizquel, Ramirez
He just has to be out there enough to prove it. Having that kind of patience while rehabbing numerous injuries hasn't been an easy balance to find.
"I think that's probably the hardest part about rehab, is you can come in here and you can feel good, but you're on a schedule," DeLauter said. "I mean, your body might feel better than what it's ready for, and I think that's just where you've got to accept that you're in here to be available for the next day, not to win the World Series tomorrow."
The goal for DeLauter is eventually to be roaming right field in Cleveland — preferably, for him, in the World Series. But for now, he'll take a back field in Goodyear, Ariz. or any outfield grass in Triple-A — just as long as he's in the lineup.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians prospect Chase DeLauter could be a factor in 2025
