CLEVELAND, Ohio — In a move that had many scratching their heads early Tuesday, the Cleveland Guardians added Chase DeLauter to their wild card series roster despite the prospect having never played above Triple-A. When his name appeared in the starting lineup for Game 2 against Detroit - an elimination game no less - the decision appeared even bolder.
What followed was a baptism by fire that perfectly encapsulates the Guardians’ 2025 season: initial disaster, followed by resilience, and ultimately, redemption.
Standing in center field for a tricky 1:08 p.m. start with challenging sun conditions, DeLauter’s major league debut quickly turned nightmarish when Gleyber Torres sent a fly ball his way in the first inning.
“Imagine how DeLauter felt in his first major league game. The second a