Guardians’ Chase DeLauter Smacks First AFL Home Run

Two things are true about Chase DeLauter: He’s had severe trouble staying healthy, but when he does get on the field … he mashes. Those two facts describe DeLauter’s 2024 season perfectly. Injuries limited the 2022 first-rounder to just 39 games in the regular season, but he still hit eight home runs during that limited sample. To make up those lost at-bats, DeLauter is back for his second straight stint in the Arizona Fall League. Last year, he hit five doubles and five home runs while posting a .914 OPS with Peoria. He’s with Surprise this year, and on Wednesday he notched his first home run of the fall. The longball came in the first inning off of Glendale starter Connor Phillips (Reds) and gave his team a quick two-run edge. It was also part of a two-hit day which included a walk, two RBIs and three runs scored.