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It’s hard to have a better regular season debut in MLB than Cleveland Guardians rookie Chase DeLauter.
In the Guardians’ 6-4 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday at T-Mobile Park, DeLauter hit two home runs in his regular season debut, becoming the sixth player to accomplish the feat. The top prospect made his debut in the American League Wild Card Series last fall, so Thursday wasn’t DeLauter’s first taste of big league action, but he said he’ll never forget his regular-season debut.
“It’s something I’ll never forget,” DeLauter said of his playoff debut last year. “I won’t forget this one either, don’t get me wrong.”
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Chase DeLauter of the Cleveland Guardians jogs the bases after hitting a solo home run against Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert during the first inning of an opening day baseball game in Seattle, Washington, March 26, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)
In the first inning, the 24-year-old hit Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert’s 85 mph slider 358 feet over the right field wall for his first Major League home run, giving the Guardians a 1-0 lead.
He became the fifth player in the 126-year history of the Cleveland franchise to homer in his first career regular-season at-bat. He is the first Guardians player to do so since Jhonkensy Noel on June 26, 2024.
DeLauter’s second outburst of the game came in the ninth inning, when he crushed Mariners reliever Cooper Criswell’s cutter 422 feet into right-center field, providing a key insurance run as he gave the Guardians a 6-4 lead.
“He’s not from this planet,” reliever Erik Sabrowski said of DeLauter, according to The Athletic.
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Chase DeLauter of the Cleveland Guardians jogs the bases after hitting a solo home run against Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert during the first inning of an opening day baseball game in Seattle, Washington, March 26, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)
DeLauter finished the night 3-for-5, which tied him with veteran slugger Rhys Hoskins for the team lead in hits. Hoskins was particularly impressed by DeLauter’s imperturbability in his third major league game.
“Maybe he doesn’t know, maybe ignorance is bliss,” Hoskins said. “But, to have such a slow heartbeat, in a home opener, obviously their crowd is all charged up because of what this team was able to do last year. So yeah, it’s just super cool.”
DeLauter is just happy to be on the team and available. In DeLauter’s three seasons in the organization, he played in just 138 games while dealing with a litany of injuries.
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Chase DeLauter of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert during the first inning of an opening day baseball game in Seattle, Washington, March 26, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)
“I mean, I’m just excited to be with the guys,” DeLauter said. “I’m excited to be available. Really excited to play meaningful baseball again.”
DeLauter will look to continue his strong start when the Guardians (1-0) face the Mariners (0-1) again on Friday at 9:45 p.m. ET.
