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DeLauter

Not only is he starting, but he’s moving up from seventh to fifth in swapping spots with Bo Naylor. It’s the only change in the Guardians lineup from Wednesday’s victory.

DeLauter was making his MLB debut in as big a moment as one can have, and it didn’t get off to a good start. On his first chance in center, he dropped a flyball that certainly had some movement due to wind, but still was an obvious error. He drew a walk in his first plate appearance, however, and he made a huge throw to get Zack McKinstry out at third to prevent another run from scoring and kept the game 1-1. DeLauter will likely be back in the lineup against righties for as long as the Guardians are able to keep playing.

DeLauter’s major-league debut couldn’t come in a bigger spot with the Guardians facing elimination. The 23-year-old top prospect becomes just the sixth player ever to debut in the postseason. He’s talented enough from an offensive upside standpoint to provide an immediate spark for a Cleveland lineup that owns the lowest team batting average of any team in the playoffs. “He can hit -- everywhere he’s ever been, he’s hit,” said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. “We’re looking for offense. We have been all year. And this gives us a really good opportunity to have an impact bat.”

We discussed this as a possibility yesterday, and now it’s official. The Guardians have the lowest team batting average for a postseason team in MLB history with a .226 mark, so it makes sense that they’re trying to bring some offensive upside onto the roster. If DeLauter gets into a game in the series, it will be his MLB debut, so this is certainly a unique move for Cleveland.

DeLauter underwent surgery to repair a right hamate fracture back on July 23rd, but he resumed baseball activities in August. The 23-year-old is in Cleveland as a member of the taxi squad and could be an option for this upcoming series against the Tigers. DeLauter hit .278/.383/.476 with five home runs and 21 RBI in 34 games at Triple-A before getting hurt this season. This would be a major jump for him, but he has the talent to be an impactful bat for the Guardians, like Evan Carter was for the Rangers a few years back.

DeLauter is trending towards returning to action at Triple-A Columbus in late August or early September after undergoing surgery back in late July to repair a hamate fracture. The 23-year-old top prospect has the talent to make a serious impact in the big leagues, but injuries have prevented him from reaching Cleveland.

DeLauter has dealt with numerous injury setbacks since being selected 16th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft, with this latest procedure extinguishing any chance he’ll make it to Cleveland until next season. The 23-year-old top prospect’s offensive talent is undeniable, but he’s been snake-bitten by injuries, mostly foot issues, the last few years.

Not great. DeLauter was shut down last weekend with right wrist soreness just as he appeared to be on the verge of making it to Cleveland for their second-half playoff push. There should be a definitive update on the 23-year-old top prospect’s status this week, but typically a visit to a specialist involves determining whether a surgical procedure is required.

DeLauter can’t seem to catch a break. The 23-year-old top prospect, who has battled foot injuries the past few years, is set to undergo further evaluation after experiencing symptoms earlier this week while playing for Triple-A Columbus. He’s one of the most talented hitting prospects left in the minors and has a chance to make a serious impact for Cleveland, if he’s able to stay healthy enough to make it to the majors. There should be an update on his status at some point during next week’s All-Star break.

DeLauter’s home run was a 412-foot shot that left the bat at 109 mph. He’s slashing .279/.386/.475 with five home runs and 20 RBI in 33 games at Triple-A. The 23-year-old and fellow left-handed-hitter C.J. Kayfus both homered on Wednesday and are pushing for MLB at-bats in a season where it seems like the Guardians could trade away big league hitters like Carlos Santana and Lane Thomas at the trade deadline.