Outfielder Chase DeLauter, who has no major league experience, has been named to the Cleveland Guardians’ roster for their wild-card series against the Detroit Tigers. If he plays, DeLauter would be the first player to make his major league debut in the postseason since 2020.
The 23-year-old, selected 16th in the 2022 amateur draft, has seen his season limited by injuries. He underwent bilateral core muscle surgery for a sports hernia in March and later had surgery in July to repair a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist. In 34 games at Triple-A Columbus, DeLauter hit .278 with five home runs and 21 RBIs.
Manager Stephen Vogt said the team opted for an 11-man pitching staff, creating a spot for an extra hitter. “Chase was healthy, and he’s the best bat we have available to us,” Vogt stated, noting DeLauter has been taking batting practice at the team’s Arizona complex. One of seven left-handed bats on the roster, DeLauter could see action in center or right field.
The move did not surprise Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, who cited the extensive crossover between the two organizations’ minor league teams. “We play these guys coming up throughout,” Hinch said. “You’ll hear our hitters talk about facing these guys in Akron or facing these guys in Erie.”
For the best-of-three series, the Tigers included right-hander Paul Sewald but left off right-handers Chris Paddack and Tanner Rainey.
In other American League wild-card roster news, the New York Yankees added rookie catcher J.C. Escarra and pitchers Paul Blackburn and Will Warren for their series against the Boston Red Sox. Pitchers Luis Gil and Ryan Yarbrough, along with outfielder Austin Slater, were left off. Escarra gives the Yankees a third catcher, providing manager Aaron Boone with more pinch-hitting and pinch-running flexibility.
The Red Sox included speedy infielders Nate Eaton and David Hamilton, as well as rookie left-handers Connelly Early and Payton Tolle. Right-hander Lucas Giolito will miss the series with an elbow injury.
For the National League series between the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs, the Padres left catcher Elias Díaz off the roster due to a sore left oblique. They will carry three other catchers: Luis Campusano, Freddy Fermin, and Martín Maldonado. Rookie infielder Mason McCoy was included, while left-hander Yuki Matsui was left off.
The Cubs added rookie outfielder Kevin Alcántara and rookie catcher Moisés Ballesteros to their roster, leaving off right-hander Javier Assad and catcher Miguel Amaya.
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