Guardians Top Prospect Dealing With Foot Injury

Cleveland Guardians No. 1 overall prospect Chase DeLauter remains sidelined with a foot injury.

Feb 29, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (6) grounds out in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports / Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Chase DeLauter captured the attention of all Cleveland Guardians fans in spring training as he hit colossal home runs off major league pitching. Unsurprisingly, DeLauter did not make the big league roster and started the season with the Akron Rubberducks (Double-A).

He’s played in 16 games so far this season but has remained sidelined since last Thursday with a foot injury. 

Per Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com, the team “does not think that the injury is serious” and is being extremely cautious with their first-round pick from the 2022 draft.

Chase DeLauter, spring training sensation, hasn't played the past several games at AA because of pain in left foot. The same foot he broke in college and had to undergo surgery on after Cleveland made him their No.1 pick in 2022. The team does not think it's serious.

— paul hoynes (@hoynsie) April 30, 2024

MLB.com's Mandy Bell reported that he is "expected to miss a handful of games" and "should be back in the mix in the near future."

There’s a reason that the organization is being careful with the number one overall prospect. DeLauter underwent surgery to repair this same foot in college and again in January 2023.

Stephen Vogt said back in March that DeLauter’s goal this season should be to play a fully healthy season. While sitting out with the injury isn’t exactly part of that plan, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Feb 29, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (6) grounds out in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports / Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

DeLauter is currently hitting .197/.296/.295 with an OPS of .591 through his first 61 at-bats of the season. He’s hit just one home run and driving in three runs. 

At some point, whether it be 2024 or beyond, DeLauter will play a key piece in the Guardians' future. But as Vogt said during spring training, being healthy is the only way that is going to happen.

Hopefully, we see DeLauter suit up for Akron shortly.