The Cleveland Guardians recently promoted their standout outfield prospect, Chase DeLauter, from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus following a hot streak at the plate. Despite having only a few games at the Triple-A level, DeLauter has already made a significant impact with a 185 wRC+, indicating he has been 85 percent better than the league-average hitter, which is exceptional.
Just as DeLauter’s name was gaining traction for a potential call-up to the major leagues, he suffered an injury on Thursday that will sideline him for at least a few days. The Guardians Prospective account on X reported that DeLauter was placed on the 7-day injured list at Columbus due to a right hamstring strain. The team also announced the activation of RHP Nic Enright from the 7-day IL.
DeLauter reportedly injured himself in the ninth inning after reaching base on an error, following an impressive inside-the-park home run he hit to start the game. He had been excelling with a .304/.407/.739 slash line and two home runs in just six games since his promotion to Triple-A.
This injury comes at a time when Cleveland is struggling with underperforming outfielders like Tyler Freeman and Will Brennan, who could have made way for DeLauter. Unfortunately, DeLauter’s progress will now be delayed, adding to his earlier injury setbacks this season, which included a fractured foot and turf toe.
While details about the severity of his current injury are limited, and it’s uncertain whether he will return this year, DeLauter remains a strong candidate for an MLB debut in the first half of 2025 if he doesn’t make it to the majors this season.
