The Guardians announced that outfield prospect Chase DeLauter underwent surgery to address a core muscle/sports hernia injury this morning. As part of the announcement, the club relayed that similar cases have required players about eight to twelve weeks to return to play.
DeLauter, 23, is one of the club’s top prospects. The 16th overall pick from the 2022 draft, he has 406 minor league plate appearances under his belt thus far, having hit .317/.387/.517 in those for a 147 wRC+.
He isn’t yet on the club’s 40-man roster but he came into camp as a non-roster invitee. That technically put him in the competition for an Opening Day job, though that was always going to be a bit of a long shot. While he’s had strong results in terms of quality, injuries have stood in the way of quantity.
He was once projected as a potential top ten pick in the draft but a foot injury created some concern and caused him to fall to 16th. Recurring foot injuries have held him back since then, with DeLauter getting into just 57 minor league games in 2023 and 39 games in 2024.
Though his numbers have been good and he does have six Triple-A games on his track record already, the Guardians were likely planning to have him get more reps in a minor league environment to start 2025. That plan will now have to be delayed, as DeLauter should be on the shelf into May or June.
Given that injuries have already prevented him from building a notable workload, it’s less than ideal that this season is starting with yet another setback. Though if DeLauter is able to return in eight to twelve weeks, he would still have time to set a new career high in terms of games played in a professional season.
Once he gets healthy and into form, there could be a path to big league playing time in the Cleveland outfield. Steven Kwan and Lane Thomas should have left and center field spoken for, respectively, though Thomas is an impending free agent after 2025. Right field, DeLauter’s likely future position, will be handled by some combination of Will Brennan, Jhonkensy Noel and Johnathan Rodríguez. Both Noel and Rodríguez just debuted in the majors last year. Brennan has a bit more experience but with subpar offense and questionable defense.
In the long run, the Guards are surely still hoping for DeLauter to take up a job in that outfield mix, though he will ideally show some extended health at some point. For now, it’s yet another roadblock but hopefully one he can overcome in a few weeks/months. Even if he doesn’t push for a major league debut during the 2025 season, he’ll need to be added to the 40-man in December to be protected from the Rule 5 draft.
Dude could be a menace on the field if he could just stay healthy.
He will be, great athlete
not sure if the injury, the surgery, or the announcement was this morning. or maybe all three
He likely would not have been called up until September under the best of circumstances anyway. Unfortunate for him and the guardians organization.
Where are you getting this from? He’d have most likely been playing RF in the postseason vs rhp if he hadn’t broke down then. He was on a great tear and moved up to AAA.
Got to use him whenever possible because it’s not looking like it’ll be often given his fragility. This is becoming embarrassing.
I doubt he would have seen any postseason action.
Since 2012 1st rd picks…
‘12…T. Naquin MISS
’13…C. Frazier MISS
’14…B. Zimmer MISS
‘14 (supp)…J. Sheffield MISS
‘14 (supp)…M. Papi MISS
’15…B. Aiken MISS
’15 (supp)…T. McKenzie Hit & Miss
’16…W. Benson MISS
’17…None…Their best so far
’18…B. Naylor MISS, so far
’19…D. Espino MISS
’20…C. Tucker MISS
’21…G. Williams TBD
’22…C. DeLauter MISS (sadly)
’23…R. Velazquez TBD
’24…T. Bazzana TBD
For the good things the organization does, drafting in the 1st rd is not one of them.
While I agree with the overall statement, I think it’s premature to say Naylor and afterwards are misses. The exception being Tucker. Also, let’s not forget that Clint Frazier was a key piece in the Andrew Miller trade. That alone is worth the pick.
Do you really believe Naylor will be anything more than what Hedges was early in his career with SD? I believe that’s his ceiling.
Drafting guys like Espino & DeLauter who can’t stay on the field, as well as once highly touted George Valera, it does not bode well for success. They have developed a lot of pitchers but the hitter side has not been good over the last few years. To compete with the big market teams, hitting on your 1st rd picks is crucial.
Your point is appreciated but the conclusion is flawed. Not to mix metaphors here but the tom brady rule applies as does the jose ramirez rule. Baseball history is filled with failed number 1s and amazingly successful later round and international sign selections. But you know that because your point is valid but context is everthing.
Why did you stop at 2012?
The reality is a majority of first round picks don’t have productive major league careers. The odds get slimmer as you move down in draft order. Cleveland only had 2 top 10 picks in that time frame (Frazier and Bazzana).
Your point is valid. Guards fan here, I used to cast an esp jealous eye at what the Dodgers were doing in rd 1 picking after us. Corey Seager, Walker Buehler, Will Smith, that is about 70 WAR I think just from the 2012-16 drafts. LA got money and smarts, it sucks. Good thing we make good trades and make a few good Bieber Bibee type later picks. But good hitters not so much.
Cleveland hasn’t been picking very high in any of these drafts. You look at any team with a 12 year run of late first round picks and you’ll see a very similar hit rate. Aside from Papi, Aiken, and Tucker they all made or are likely going to make the show. That’s arguably a *good* hit rate.
The last time they picked anywhere near as high as Bazzana, they picked Francisco Lindor
That’s why I say look at what the Dodgers have done. In each case I cited they picked after us. Looks like we’re doing better lately tho, esp with hitters but we have to start trying to go after more dynamic RF type talents.
Since 2017 we have only picked Johnathan Rodriguez and DeLauter who fit that mold.
Guy just can’t stay on the field.
Mark Carreon 2.0 One can only dream of the accomplishments if injuries didn’t overshadow his entire career.
This guy belongs in the Twins org
DeLauter’s biggest battle isn’t talent—it’s time. If he can’t prove he can stay on the field in 2025, the Guardians may quietly start moving on, even before the public realizes it.