SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Chase DeLauter, you know how to make a (re)entrance.
DeLauter returned to the Guardians’ lineup on Sunday for the first time since he was a late scratch Wednesday due to lower body soreness. The 24-year-old promptly went 2-for-2 with a double and a homer in an 8-3 win over the Rockies at Goodyear Ballpark.
Elsewhere on Sunday, the Guardians lost, 9-6, to the D-backs at Salt River Fields as part of split-squad action.
The Guardians made DeLauter (MLB Pipeline’s No. 46 overall prospect) a precautionary scratch shortly before first pitch on Wednesday due to the leg issue, as part of their plan this spring to be mindful about his workload given his physical history. DeLauter has missed extended time each of the past three Minor League seasons due to injuries.
DeLauter on Friday described what he was dealing with as "just a little tight” in his legs. He did not skip a beat in his return to action.
COMPLETE GUARDIANS PROSPECT COVERAGE
In the first inning Sunday, DeLauter hit a double off Rockies starter Chase Dollander, on a curveball on the outer half of the plate. The fly ball was just out of the reach of left fielder Troy Johnston and crashed off the base of the left-field wall. It had a 99.3 mph exit velocity, per Statcast.
"I would love to have not given up a run, but DeLauter put a good swing on a good curveball,” Dollander said.
DeLauter followed that up by launching a no-doubt two-run homer off right-hander Jaden Hill in the third. It had a 105.6 mph exit velocity and went a Statcast-projected 389 feet.
“Great example from Chase today of the types of things that are really encouraging to see: two good at-bats, two good swings,” assistant general manager Matt Forman told Tom Hamilton during a mid-game interview, as aired on Guardians TV.
“He’s missed the past handful of days with some lower body soreness,” Forman added. “At this time of spring, it’s important to not let a two- or three-day thing turn into a two-to-three-week type of thing. He made sure he continued to focus on the consistency of his routine. Put himself in a position to be able to be out here today and DH and had two great plate appearances.”
The Guardians hope DeLauter has a big impact on their lineup this season, and though it's early in spring, he's showing what he's capable of. In three games, he's 5-for-8 with two doubles, one homer and three RBIs.