• Full name Chase Daniel DeLauter
  • Born 10/08/2001 in Frederick, MD
  • Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: L / Throws: L
  • School James Madison
  • Drafted in the 1st round (16th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2022 (signed for $3,750,000).
    View Draft Report
    DeLauter exploded during the summer of 2021 in the Cape Cod League, when he hit .298/.397/.589 with nine home runs, 21 walks and 18 strikeouts with Orleans. That performance with a wood bat, combined with his gaudy numbers with James Madison and a loud set of physical tools, elevated him into the top tier of 2022 draft prospects, with some scouts citing him as the top player in the class. DeLauter scuffled out of the gate initially in a tough matchup against Florida State, with a swing path that looked steeper and stiffer than it did over the summer. He quickly found his form and went on to hit .437/.576/.828 with eight home runs and more walks (28) than strikeouts (21) for the Dukes before a broken left foot ended his season after just 24 games. DeLauter is a large and physical, 6-foot-4, 235-pound center fielder who looks like he should be in a corner outfield position, but he’s a surprisingly good runner for his size and has turned in double-plus run times in the 60-yard dash. That speed, plus solid instincts, have led some scouts to believe he can at least start his career in center field, and he has the plus arm strength to profile in right if he slows down or is forced off the position by a better defender. DeLauter’s statistical portfolio will be more heavily criticized as a small school hitter, but he has shown a precocious batting eye and rarely expands the zone with good contact as well. DeLauter has plus raw power that translated to a wood bat in the Cape Cod League, and while he never hit double-digit home runs with James Madison, he also never played more than 26 games in a season and was well on his way in 2022 before getting injured. He hasn’t faced a large sample of elite velocity, which will be another question he’ll need to answer at the next level. DeLauter should become the highest-drafted player in James Madison’s history (outfielder Kellen Kulbacki was selected No. 40 in 2007) and fits somewhere in the middle of the first round on talent.

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Career Transactions

  • RF Chase DeLauter assigned to Surprise Saguaros.
  • Columbus Clippers activated RF Chase DeLauter from the 7-day injured list.
  • Columbus Clippers placed OF Chase DeLauter on the 7-day injured list.
  • Columbus Clippers activated OF Chase DeLauter.
  • OF Chase DeLauter assigned to Columbus Clippers from Akron RubberDucks.
  • Akron RubberDucks activated OF Chase DeLauter from the 7-day injured list.
  • Akron RubberDucks sent OF Chase DeLauter on a rehab assignment to ACL Guardians.
  • Akron RubberDucks sent OF Chase DeLauter on a rehab assignment to ACL Guardians.
  • Akron RubberDucks placed OF Chase DeLauter on the 7-day injured list.
  • Akron RubberDucks activated OF Chase DeLauter from the 7-day injured list.
  • Akron RubberDucks placed OF Chase DeLauter on the 7-day injured list.
  • OF Chase DeLauter assigned to Cleveland Guardians.
  • Lake County Captains sent OF Chase DeLauter on a rehab assignment to ACL Guardians.
  • Lake County Captains sent OF Chase DeLauter on a rehab assignment to ACL Guardians.
  • Lake County Captains placed OF Chase DeLauter on the 60-day injured list.
  • OF Chase DeLauter assigned to Lake County Captains from ACL Guardians.
  • OF Chase DeLauter assigned to ACL Guardians from Guardians Organization.

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