Chase DeLauter
Age: 21
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 235 lbs.
Bats/Throws: Left/Left
Hometown: Frederick, Maryland
Draft Profile: 1st Round, 16th pick of the 2022 draft by Cleveland
Drafted Out of: James Madison University
Career Stat Line: N/A (60 Day IL)
Back we go to our stomping grounds in Maryland for this week's Minor League Spotlight: outfielder Chase DeLauter. At 6'4", 235 pounds, the dude's always been an athletic specimen, it was just a matter of finding what sport was his best fit.
As high school approached, DeLauter and his family made their way slightly west from Frederick, Maryland to Hedgesville, West Virginia. Barely a blip on many a map, the tiny West Virginia town boasts a population of less than 400 people. Needless to say, it was far off the radar of many professional and collegiate scouts.
Regardless of the lack of national prominence, the three sport athlete was able to work Hedgesville High School onto the map. While also playing football and basketball, DeLauter shined as a four time member of the varsity baseball team, really emerging his junior and senior seasons (BreezeJMU). Those two years, he slashed an impressive .554/12/80 in 64 total games, but was even more impressive on the mound. The lefty went 11-2 during his final two years on the bump, with a stout 1.81 ERA and 1.4 K/inning (MaxPreps).
James Madison got in touch with the talented two-way prep baller during his junior year at a regional prospect camp. They liked what he brought to the camp, as well as the on-field product, and decided to offer to kid a scholarship as a pitcher. As he continued to grow, his bat really came on strong, and he converted to a two-way player before heading to the university.
Like the rest of the world, his freshman season shortened to just sixteen games due to COVID. Chase really struggled with the adjustment on the mound, going 0-3 while allowing 13 earned runs in just 14.1 innings of work with a WHIP of 1.7 (Baseball Reference). He provided a nice surprise at the dish however, with a .382 average and essentially a 1:1 K:BB ratio.
DeLauter would build upon those strong batting numbers in 2021, producing a .386/6/21 stat line in his first full collegiate campaign. His stats on the bump improved pretty substantially, but he only recorded 7.1 innings on the season, pretty clearly indicative that the Dukes' coaching staff's was invested in having him embrace his shifting role to a full-time position player.
His best stats came during his junior stint for James Madison, with a gaudy .437 batting average, .576 OBP and 1.404 OPS in 24 games, and major league teams began to really take notice. There were some concerns about the inferior competition he faced in college not preparing him adequately for pro ball, but at 6'4", 235, the physical frame was there.
Unfortunately, that same junior year was abruptly ended by a broken foot that he suffered sliding into second base (MiLB). While this was a discouraging development to those following his work, it didn't deter the Cleveland Guardians from taking a swing at the outfielder. They made things official by selecting Chase with the sixteenth overall pick of the 2022 Amateur Draft, eventually inking him to a $3.75 million dollar signing bonus (Baseball America).
That injury, or perhaps one that stemmed from it, popped back up on the radar for DeLauter this most recent December, when the prospect suffered pain in his foot while running during a workout. Tests ultimately revealed a fracture at the base of his toe, sidelining Cleveland's seventh overall prospect for at least four months (ESPN).
The 21 year old is still currently on the IL, but making his way back soon. When he does, he'll be joining the High-A Lake County Captains out in Ohio, as he officially begins his journey as a professional baseballer. Don't miss out on this kid's rise to the bigs.
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@Choppinglines
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