Guardians Await Healthy Chase DeLauter in Columbus: Baseball's Weekly Update

Guardians' Strategy for Chase DeLauter's Promotion

The Cleveland Guardians are eager to bring outfielder Chase DeLauter into the major leagues, just like many fans who have been calling for his promotion. However, the team is waiting for the healthy version of their first-round pick from 2022.

Currently, DeLauter is playing through injuries at Triple-A Columbus. While these injuries aren’t severe enough to keep him off the field, they are a concern for the Guardians. The team doesn’t want to promote him only to see him land on the injured list shortly after.

The Guardians are keen to observe how DeLauter handles the physical demands of being an everyday professional player. Since being drafted, injuries have kept him off the field more than on it. The organization wants to assess his current physical condition and ability to manage the workload.

At Columbus, DeLauter is following a program that includes regular days off and designated hitter appearances. This approach might be challenging to maintain in the major leagues.

DeLauter has shown promise with a .278 batting average (35 for 126) this season, including five home runs, 21 RBIs, and a .859 OPS. He has also struck out 23 times and walked 22 times. His performance has fluctuated, which could be attributed to his health. In June, he hit .338 (25 for 74) with three home runs and 14 RBIs, but in July, his performance dropped to .194 (6 for 31) with one home run and five RBIs.

DeLauter faced challenges early in his professional career. He was sidelined during big league camp due to a sports hernia that required surgery. He didn’t start playing games until May, hitting .186 (8 for 43) with the ACL rookie league team and Columbus. After being drafted in 2022, he didn’t begin his professional career until 2023 because of surgery on his left foot, an injury that had previously cut short his final year at James Madison University.

In 2024, DeLauter started the season at Double-A Akron but again faced foot problems, limiting him to 30 games with the RubberDucks. He was later promoted to Columbus but played only six games due to a right hamstring injury.

The Guardians could use some help in the outfield, especially in right field. Jhonkensy Noel was recently optioned to Columbus, while Johnathan Rodriguez is hitting .152 (7 for 46) with four RBIs. Lane Thomas is on the injured list for the third time this season. However, Nolan Jones is starting to show improvement, hitting .312 (29 for 93) with a .393 on-base percentage and a .823 OPS since May 28.

It remains unclear what the Guardians will do at the trade deadline on July 31. They are 14 games behind the AL Central leaders and five games out of the wild card spot. However, they currently have the easiest schedule for the rest of the season based on the winning percentages of their opponents. This could influence their decisions regarding promotions from Columbus.

Another prospect being closely watched by the Guardians is C.J. Kayfus. The potential promotions of DeLauter and Kayfus are connected. The Guardians believe DeLauter is slightly ahead of Kayfus, who is more suited for first base than the outfield. Fitting both players on the 26-man roster this season may prove difficult.

What about Luis Ortiz?

Ortiz is under investigation for allegedly influencing prop bets while pitching this season. The Guardians are treating him as if he’s on the injured list. They have received limited information about his situation, except that the investigation may conclude on July 17, the end of the All-Star break.

Left-hander Joey Cantillo was promoted from Columbus and has filled in well as Ortiz’s replacement in the starting rotation.

Shane Bieber's Recovery Progress

Shane Bieber was scheduled to throw another bullpen session this weekend. If everything goes smoothly, he will travel to the Guardians’ spring training complex in Goodyear, Arizona, and participate in a game over the All-Star break.

Bieber, recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, threw a 41-pitch, three-inning live batting practice session on Thursday in Cleveland. The Guardians were impressed with his performance.

If MLB penalizes Ortiz, Bieber could be ready to rejoin the rotation in August.