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It’s hard to have a better MLB regular season debut than Cleveland Guardians rookie Chase DeLauter.
In the Guardians’ 6-4 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday at T-Mobile Park, DeLauter homered twice in his regular-season debut, becoming the sixth player ever to do so. The top prospect debuted 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 postseason debut last year. “I won’t forget this one either, don’t get me wrong.”
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Cleveland Guardians’ Chase DeLauter 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, 24-year-old Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert’s 85-mph slider sailed 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 Cleveland’s 126-year franchise history to hit a home run in his first career regular-season at-bat. He is the first Guardians player to do so since Jhonkensy Noel on 26 June 2024.
DeLauter’s second blast of the game came in the ninth inning when he crushed Mariners reliever Cooper Criswell’s cutter 422 feet into right-center, scoring a key insurance run to give 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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Cleveland Guardians’ Chase DeLauter 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, tying him for the team lead in hits with veteran slugger Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins was especially impressed with how untouched DeLauter was in just his third major-league game.
“Maybe he doesn’t know, maybe ignorance is bliss,” Hoskins said. “But to have that slow heartbeat, in a home opener, obviously their crowd is charged up because of what this team was able to do last year. So yeah, just super cool.”
DeLauter is just excited to be around the team and available. In DeLauter’s three seasons with the organization, he has played in just 138 games while dealing with a slew of injuries.
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Cleveland Guardians’ Chase DeLauter 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, just excited to be with the guys,” DeLauter said. “Excited to be available. Really excited to just play some meaningful baseball again.”
DeLauter will look to continue his hot start when the Guardians (1-0) play the Mariners (0-1) again on Friday at 9:45 PM ET.
