Rookie Chase DeLauter Hits 2 Home Runs in MLB Debut

Chase DeLauter's dad knew something special was happening when his son hit two home runs in a practice game earlier this week. But Jason DeLauter had no idea his son was just warming up for something even bigger.

The 24-year-old Cleveland Guardians rookie made baseball history Thursday, smashing two home runs in his first official major league game. He joined an elite group of only seven players in MLB history to start their careers with a multi-homer performance.

DeLauter's first homer came in the opening inning when he crushed a slider into the right field stands at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. His family, including his dad who had flown in from West Virginia for the big moment, watched from perfect seats on the third-base side as the ball sailed 448 feet.

"To dig that out, and he had two strikes, it's impressive," Jason said. "We're still in awe."

The young outfielder wasn't finished. In the ninth inning, he launched a 422-foot shot to right-center field, cementing his place in the Guardians' 126-year franchise history books.

DeLauter's journey to this moment makes the achievement even sweeter. Over the past three seasons, he's battled core muscle surgery, a broken hamate bone, and recurring foot issues that limited him to just 138 minor league games.

Why This Inspires

What makes DeLauter's story remarkable isn't just the home runs. It's the resilience behind them.

Last September, the Guardians shocked everyone by adding him to their playoff roster despite not having played an actual game in three months due to injury recovery. They put him in center field during an elimination game against the Detroit Tigers, and he showed up ready.

"When he walked in and was ready to make his debut in an elimination game, he's just like, 'Yeah, I'm ready,'" said manager Stephen Vogt. That playoff experience, DeLaurer said, helped him feel more at ease during Thursday's historic performance.

His teammate, reliever Erik Sabrowski, summed up the rookie's otherworldly talent perfectly: "He's not from this planet."

The Guardians will carefully manage DeLauter's playing time this season, rotating him between right field and designated hitter to keep him healthy. But after Thursday's performance, every baseball fan will be watching to see what this young star does next.