DeLauter hitting again in BP, optimistic about return next week

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- If we were at a different point on the calendar, perhaps Chase DeLauter would have remained in the Guardians’ lineup in recent days. But it’s not even March, so he and the team took the most sensible approach after he experienced a bit of lower body soreness this week.

The good news is DeLauter (who was a late scratch from Wednesday’s starting lineup) noted Friday morning that he’s feeling fine. He described what he’s encountered as “nothing crazy” and being "just a little tight in the legs,” mixed with a high running workload.

Rather than push through it and risk an actual injury, DeLauter and the team exercised caution. The 24-year-old expressed optimism he could return to play within a few days. His workload Friday was slated to include participating in team stretch and hitting in batting practice at Cleveland’s player development complex.

• Cubs 8, Guardians 6

“Try to keep it a two-, three-day thing, not a six-week, two-month thing," DeLauter said. “It’s still February. There's no rush. I've got probably about 30 or 40 at-bats already under my belt, just between [live batting practice] and games already. So there's no rush there.

“I think the last couple days, just kind of take it easy.”

DeLauter (MLB Pipeline’s No. 46 overall prospect) has played in two Cactus League games thus far, on Saturday versus the Brewers and on Monday against the D-backs. He’s vying to make his first Opening Day roster this spring, and the Guardians are excited about what he could contribute to their lineup in 2026.

The Guardians noted all winter they would be thoughtful about DeLauter’s workload during Spring Training given his physical history. This situation has been right in line with that plan, and the club is happy DeLauter said something. The calendar is on their side here.

“Thankfully, it is still February,” DeLauter said. “There's no rush to really get me back out there. If this was the regular season, I’d probably have been playing the last couple days. But I think [it’s] just trying to figure out how to mitigate what's going on.

“Like, when these things come up, how to quickly flush them out and get rolling again. I would say that's kind of where we're at.”

Manager Stephen Vogt described DeLauter’s situation as day to day. The Guardians want to make sure they stress test things before he returns to game action, versus them just throwing him back into the lineup.

“It's early,” Vogt said. [We’re] thankful that he spoke up and said he was sore. We don't want to push any of our players too much too fast, and particularly with Chase. We want to make sure that he's feeling as close to at his best every time he goes out there during Spring Training.”

The Guardians encourage players to speak up when they’re dealing with something, whether it’s minor or not. Vogt noted how much things have changed in that regard since even early in his playing career.

“Now it's like, ‘No, we need to know how you're feeling,’” Vogt said, “because our medical staff is so good at treating and preventing things from getting too much. We need to know every little thing that's bothering you so that we can keep you on the field.

“Whereas I think the old perception was, ‘If we know something about you, we will keep you off the field.’ That narrative has completely flipped.”