CLEVELAND -- Travis Bazzana and Chase DeLauter entered 2026 with zero combined games of regular-season big league experience. Granted, DeLauter got a taste when he made his MLB debut during the ‘25 postseason, but his two-game stint was far from a long runway.
And yet, if you didn’t know any better, no one would blame you if you mistook these guys for more than rookies.
“They're confident,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “They know they belong in the big leagues.”
The Guardians (33-25) sit atop the AL Central standings as we approach June, and the contributions of Bazzana and DeLauter have been two key reasons why. We saw that again on Wednesday afternoon, as Cleveland picked up a 3-2 win over the Nationals at Progressive Field.
Bazzana went 2-for-4 with two doubles and one run scored out of the leadoff spot, while DeLauter went 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored out of the three-hole. It helped the Guardians avoid being swept for the first time this season.
Bazzana and DeLauter entered this season ranked as the Guardians’ Nos. 1 and 2 prospects by MLB Pipeline. Both have made instant impacts and recently have found themselves sandwiched around José Ramírez in Cleveland’s lineup.
Bazzana has a .302/.407/.458 slash line with six doubles, three home runs and 15 walks with only 19 strikeouts in 27 games in the Majors. He’s made a good impression since he made his MLB debut on April 28 for his ability to consistently put together a quality at-bat, and that has carried over to the top of the lineup.
Vogt moved Bazzana to the leadoff spot for the first time on Saturday, and he’s slotted there in each of the past five games. Bazzana has logged an extra-base hit in all five games, during which he has gone 8-for-19 (.421) with five doubles and one home run.
“Just trying to stick with a good process,” Bazzana said of his comfort atop the order. “I'll kind of harp on it, hopefully all year long. If I swing at good pitches, if I'm on time, if my preparation for the game is good, the hits, the extra-base hits, the walks, those things will come. There might be some waves, but I've just been [focused] on the process.”
Bazzana was stranded on second base after he hit a leadoff double in the third inning against Washington. He hit another double in the fifth and he came around to score two batters later on a DeLauter base hit.
Bazzana nearly got a third extra-base knock in the sixth inning. He flied out to right fielder James Wood, who made the catch with a mini leap. According to Statcast, wind prevented the drive from being a home run. It was blown in three feet and pushed one foot to the left.
“Extremely consistent,” DeLauter said of Bazzana. “Whether he’s swinging it hot or not, you can't tell. He shows up every day, has competitive at-bats, works the box. He doesn't swing at balls, hits the strikes hard. What more can you ask for?”
DeLauter has likewise brought a professional approach to the heart of the lineup; he has more walks (25) than strikeouts (24) through 53 games. He’s perhaps testament to the natural waves any player goes through during a six-month baseball season.
DeLauter entered Wednesday slashing .255/.340/.436 with 11 doubles and seven homers this season. That included a .156/.236/.219 slash line with one homer over his past 17 games. He lined a first-pitch slider from Nationals lefty Richard Lovelady to left field to drive in Bazzana in the fifth.
“I feel like I’ve been getting in deep counts quick, unintentionally,” said DeLauter, who also hit a single in the seventh inning. “I was just trying to get something out of the plate early and just get it out there. Thankfully, it found some green.”
Bazzana and DeLauter got to know each other while working out together before Spring Training. This is their first time as teammates during the regular season. When Bazzana was promoted to Triple-A Columbus last Aug. 10, DeLauter was sidelined following surgery for a left hamate fracture.
The respect between the two is mutual.
“He's going to be great for a long time,” Bazzana said. “Chase is one of the most skilled and athletic and powerful baseball players I've ever seen.”
The early returns from both guys have been promising, and Cleveland certainly hopes this is the beginning of a long run of success.
“From Day 1, both Travis and Chase, when they walked through the door, they knew they're big leaguers,” Vogt said. “They're playing like it.”