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By Jackson Roberts
Contributing Sports Writer
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It's nerve-wracking every time a player makes his Major League Baseball debut. But imagine having to do so in the playoffs?
Cleveland Guardians top outfield prospect Chase DeLauter doesn't have to imagine it for much longer. That's exactly what he's expected to do this week against the Detroit Tigers.
DeLauter, who MLB Pipeline ranks as the No. 2 prospect in the Guardians' organization and the No. 54 prospect in all of baseball, was announced as a member of Cleveland's 26-man roster for the best-of-three series against Detroit starting on Tuesday night.
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With Cy Young Award favorite Tarik Skubal on the mound for Detroit, the left-handed hitting DeLauter was not in the team's announced starting lineup for Game 1. He could be a pinch-hit option for manager Steven Vogt against a right-handed reliever, or he might make his big-league debut in Game 2 with All-Star righty Casey Mize likely to get the nod for Detroit.
DeLauter, 23, was the Guardians' first-round pick in 2022 out of James Madison. He's dealt with a broken left foot on two occasions during his climb to the majors, but he's beaten up on minor-league pitching whenever he's been available, earning himself this look at the major league level.
However, after just 42 games in the minors this season, it's hard to know how DeLauter might respond to the pressure of the moment. Maybe he'll feel unburdened by expectations, because no one has ever seen him at this level before. Or maybe the bright lights of October will reel him in, as they've done to far more experienced players through the years.
In those 42 games between rookie ball and Triple-A Columbus, DeLauter slashed .264/.379/.473 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs. He also put up an impressive 28-to-28 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
One thing is for certain: Naming DeLauter to the roster, even for a light-hitting team like the Guardians, is a fascinating risk. Waiting to see if it pays off is just another reason to tune into the series, with Game 1 beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
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