Chase DeLauter Makes History Again with Stellar Performance in Guardians’ Home Opener
CLEVELAND — Chase DeLauter is quickly becoming a household name in Major League Baseball, and his latest performance in the Cleveland Guardians’ home opener against the Chicago Cubs on Friday solidified his place in the record books. The 22-year-old rookie continues to dazzle fans and analysts alike, proving he’s more than ready for the big stage.
DeLauter’s two-run homer in the seventh inning was the highlight of the Guardians’ 4-1 victory over the Cubs. The blast made him the first Cleveland player since Joe Charboneau in 1980 to hit home runs in both his first regular-season home and away games.
“Coming into a packed house, first game, beautiful day—it was a good feeling to get that one,” DeLauter said after the game. “That’s as good as you can dream it up.”
The young outfielder’s remarkable start to his MLB career began on March 26 in Seattle, where he became just the seventh player since 1889 to hit two home runs in his major league debut. Since then, DeLauter has continued to make headlines, tying for the American League lead in home runs with five—matching Oakland Athletics’ Shea Langeliers.
Friday’s game was no exception to his hot streak. DeLauter went 3-for-4 at the plate, driving in three runs. In the fifth inning, he tied the game at 1-1 with a base hit that scored Daniel Schneemann. Then, after teammate Gabriel Arias put Cleveland ahead with a solo shot in the seventh, DeLauter added to the lead with a 402-foot blast off a 96.6 mph fastball from Cubs pitcher Hunter Harvey.
“When they come off like that, sometimes you just kind of know,” DeLauter said of his home run. “I think he went five straight heaters. So, I was just looking for something up in the zone and got a good pitch to hit.”
The only misstep of the day came during DeLauter’s home run celebration, where he nearly collided with teammate Steven Kwan at home plate. “That one was my fault,” DeLauter joked. “He went in for a high-five, and I went in for a hug. Bad combination there. We’ll get it figured out for sure.”
DeLauter’s early success has drawn comparisons to some of the game’s greatest rookies. According to MLB, he is the fourth player in history to hit at least five home runs in his first seven regular-season games, joining Colorado’s Trevor Story (2016), Kansas City’s Mark Quinn (1999), and Cincinnati’s Rece Hinds (2024).
Despite a minor setback earlier this week—missing Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers after fouling a ball off his left foot—DeLauter has shown no signs of slowing down. He is now the first Cleveland player to homer in four of his first seven games, boasting a .346 batting average, eight RBIs, and an impressive 1.293 OPS.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt praised DeLauter’s composure under pressure. “Like we talked about back in the postseason, this kid’s comfortable. He’s not wide-eyed, and he’s doing a phenomenal job for us. It’s a really fun start for him this year,” Vogt said.
DeLauter’s performance has energized Cleveland fans and injected optimism into the Guardians’ young season. With such a strong start, the rookie is already establishing himself as a cornerstone for the franchise’s future.
As DeLauter continues to rewrite the record books, one thing is clear: the young slugger is here to stay, and baseball fans are in for an exciting ride.
— Reported by Nexio News
