2022 MLB Draft: James Madison Outfielder Chase DeLauter Out With Broken Left Foot

Image credit: Chase DeLauter

James Madison outfielder Chase DeLauter was out of the team’s lineup Sunday and Baseball America has learned that the No. 16 prospect for the 2022 draft has suffered a broken left foot.

DeLauter will miss at least three weeks and there’s a chance he could miss the remainder of the spring.

DeLauter was one of the most impressive college prospects last summer after his star turn in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .298/.397/.589 with nine home runs, 21 walks and 18 strikeouts in 34 games with Orleans. That vaulted him up draft boards and placed him among the first tier of college outfielders in this class entering the season, with a chance to be the first college outfielder selected. 

He struggled in his opening weekend against Florida State, but has had a fantastic season since and hit .437/.576/.828 over 24 games with eight home runs and more walks (28) than strikeouts (21).  

DeLauter will face pressure in draft rooms as a small school hitter. However, his raw tools—which include plus speed, plus raw power and the defensive ability to at least start his pro career in center field—as well as his fantastic statistical resume with James Madison and his wood bat performance in the Cape Cod League should entice teams as well.  

Over 66 total games with James Madison, DeLauter has posted a .402/.520/.715 slash line with 15 home runs, 27 doubles and 62 walks to 47 strikeouts. For a quick comparison to the most recent small school college outfielder, 2021 No. 5 overall pick (Orioles) Colton Cowser hit .354/.460/.608 with 24 home runs, 30 doubles and 76 walks to 70 strikeouts over 125 games with Sam Houston State. 

In Baseball America’s most recent mock draft, DeLauter went off the board in the middle of the first round. This injury news could drop him a bit, but he still makes plenty of sense as a first-round pick—especially for a team heavily driven by models.