'The kid's got a slow heartbeat': Chase DeLauter is opening eyes in Guardians spring camp
Chase DeLauter is just excited he's been able to "keep up" with the other players in Guardians camp this spring. He's doing a lot more than that up, though.
DeLauter, 22, is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Guardians system and No. 31 overall by MLB Pipeline. While the Guardians search for some consistent production in right field in the majors, they've been eagerly watching DeLauter make his way through the minor league system, as he represents a potential impact player in one of the corner outfield spots.
He doesn't yet have an at-bat above Double-A under his belt, but it's possible he could make his impact on the majors at some point in 2024, perhaps early 2025.
And he's done enough to be one of the Guardians prospects opening some eyes this spring, along with Angel Martinez, Kyle Manzardo and others.
Although in a small sample size, DeLauter has crushed Cactus League pitching, hitting .467 (7-for-15) with a 1.462 OPS, two home runs, a double, four RBIs and two walks. Spring training numbers must always be taken with a grain of salt — but a spring like DeLauter's is hard to completely ignore.
He's hit two home runs, both of which were noteworthy for different reasons. The first was a ball he absolutely launched, which became an instant highlight. The second was off Texas Rangers pitcher Danny Duffy, a lefty, which has been a focus of DeLauter's this offseason as a lefty himself.
"I mean, it's unbelievable, these are the guys that are in the show, so it's great to be around them, learn from them, build a connection with them, all that," DeLauter told reporters in Goodyear, Ariz. "Yeah, what isn't [there] to learn? [Myles] Straw, unbelievable in the outfield with communicating stuff. The coaching staff, unbelievable with approaches and what I'm trying to do in the box and positioning, base running. It's all something to grow from."
Guardians like how Chase DeLauter has carried calm demeanor during spring training 2024
DeLauter has garnered some high praise also given to Kyle Manzardo (another key prospect in the Guardians system), in that he appears to have a calmness to him in the batter's box that isn't common for a 22-year-old prospect.
"The kid's got a really slow heartbeat," hitting coach Chris Valaika told reporters in Goodyear, Ariz. "The way he's carried himself in camp and then just what he's doing in the box has been really, really refreshing to see for such a young guy in what, his third year in pro ball? For him to be able to handle himself in his first major league camp and have the success that he's having, it's been really nice to see."
Of course, it's fair to think that hitting .467 with two home runs will tend to boost someone's confidence pretty quickly.
"That's the name of the game — you can't hit when you're up there shaking and ready to try to hit a homer," DeLauter said. "I think loose is fast, and I kind of try to live by that when I'm taking my swings and getting my jumps and trying to run, even. Trying to stay calm, but, inside … I get nervous like anyone else."
If so, he's done well to hide it. And he's certainly done more than just "keep up" with teammates he hopes to join — sooner rather than later — in Cleveland.
Players can't always force their way onto the Opening Day roster, as there are a myriad of factors at play. But they can do well to open some eyes, or stoke some flames of organizational eagerness to see their debut in the future, and arguably nobody (outside of Martinez, perhaps) in Guardians camp has done that to a higher degree this spring than DeLauter.
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Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Threads at @ByRyanLewis.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians Chase DeLauter drawing praise in spring training
