Guardians notes: Chase DeLauter a surprising addition to wild card roster

CLEVELAND — Oft-injured top prospect Chase DeLauter has yet to make his major league debut and hasn't played in a minor league game since July 11, yet he was on the Guardians' wild card roster released Tuesday morning prior to Game 1. DeLauter, a first-round draft pick (16th overall) three years ago, was added while starting pitchers Logan Allen and Parker Messick, and reliever Zak Kent, were left off the 26-man roster. "As we were talking through it and looking through the series, we felt 11 pitchers was the right move," manager Stephen Vogt said. "When we looked at a bat, Chase was healthy and he's the best bat we have available to us. We thought it would be a good idea to get him on the roster." It's been a while since DeLauter could say he was healthy. He's battled injuries for much of his career, including this season when he was limited to 34 games for Triple-A Columbus and batted .278 with five home runs and 21 RBIs. DeLauter underwent surgery for a sports hernia at the beginning of the season then was sidelined for the final two months with a fractured right hamate bone. With the minor league seasons complete, he was unable to make a rehab assignment and has been working out at the team's spring training complex in Goodyear, Arizona. He received a cortisone injection after a setback during his rehab. "(The lack of game action) definitely plays into it, but Chase has been working. He's been hitting live BP. He's been staying active and ready," Vogt said of DeLauter, who turns 24 Oct. 8. "We felt he's an impact bat that we could add and we're going to go for it. We're excited for Chase. It's been a long time coming for him to make his debut." Vogt said DeLauter arrived excited to contribute, not overwhelmed by the promotion. "When he walked into the clubhouse, he's like, 'I'm ready to go. I couldn't be more thrilled to be here,'" Vogt said. "He was not big-eyed at all. He's ready to help us win games." Cleveland went with left-hander Joey Cantillo over Allen and Messick. "Obviously, with that (roster) construction, we had to leave one starter out, with it being a three-game series," Vogt said. " and Logan threw 88 pitches (Sunday). So, with his availability, that kind of made that decision, and Joey's had experience coming out of the bullpen, so there's some length there. Joey has shown he can throw one-inning, two-inning stints, as well. So, that really helped us make that decision." Award winners Cantillo was named American League rookie of the month, while closer Cade Smith was chosen the top reliever for September. In six starts, Cantillo went 2-0 with a 1.55 ERA, while allowing 20 hits and six walks and averaging 8.69 strikeouts per nine innings, with a 0.90 WHIP and .189 opposing batting average. Smith converted seven of eight save opportunities, posting a 2.77 ERA over 14 appearances and allowing eight hits and striking out 22 (no walks) with a 0.62 WHIP and .174 opposing average. He's the man-ager Vogt is the favorite to win his second straight Manager of the Year Award after guiding the Guardians to the biggest comeback in major league history to capture the Central Division. "I try not to ever make it about me and it's always about the guys. I just try to be the same personality, the same way, keep the same goal every day," Vogt said. "(The players) are the guys that put in the work to do it, and the coaching staff, the support staff, the front office, the players, everyone showed up with a winning attitude every day, and I'm just proud to be a part of it." The Guardians cruised to a division title last year, but Vogt had to navigate his team through trying times this season, including the loss of pitchers Luis Ortiz Jr. and Emmanuel Clase, a 10-game losing skid and a 1-9 stretch and a 15-½ game to Detroit on July 8." "There were days where it was hard. There were times where it seemed dire and bleak, but you make a decision and the decision is remain confident, remain the same, and once you make that choice, you stick to it," he said. "And that was a concerted effort every single day to make the choice to show up and be confident in these guys, because I should be. This is a really good baseball team. "Until you have the eliminated 'E' next to your name, you have a chance, and we talked about those things. I bring up the elephant in the room. I don't shy away from what's going on. And when we're talking with the players and coaches, we know where we're at. 'All we have to do is be us and we'll turn it around.'" Roundin' third Right-hander Tanner Bibee (12-11, 4.24 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Guardians in Game 2 on Wednesday, while right-hander Slade Cecconi (7-7, 4.30) is slated for Game 3 (if necessary) Thursday. The Tigers will counter with right-hander Casey Mize (14-6, 3.87) in Game 2 and right-hander Jack Flaherty (8-15, 4.64). … Injured players David Fry and Lane Thomas were introduced during pregame announcements. … Today, 1:08 p.m., ESPN; WOBL1320-AM and 107.7-FM, WTAM 1100-AM. Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on X @CAwesomeheimer.