Chase DeLauter's time has arrived for Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians need Chase DeLauter to stay on the field.

With Opening Day this week, it looks like he'll be out there for Cleveland to begin the MLB campaign. It's a chance at big things for the Guardians.

They've cleared the decks to allow DeLauter to start in the outfield. George Valera is going to miss the start of the season with injury, and Nolan Jones has been optioned off the roster.

DeLauter will start. He just has to stay healthy.

The No. 16 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of James Madison has played just 138 minor league games across three seasons since his selection. Injuries have hampered him time and again.

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On the field, though, DeLauter has been phenomenal. He has an .888 OPS in his minor league career. That includes 40 doubles and 20 homers in those 138 games.

Cleveland felt so strongly about DeLauater that he was given his debut in the majors in last year's postseason after not having played a regular season game at the MLB level.

That means that when DeLauter plays this week, it'll technically be his MLB debut, even though he's already been out there in the playoffs for the Guardians.

That goofy nuance aside, the Guardians are just glad to have DeLauter available.

He's been meant to be a big-time hitter for Cleveland from the moment he was drafted. The path up the ladder has been bumpy. But now DeLauter is here, and it's a chance at a potential future star for the Guardians.

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