The Royals have thrown down the gauntlet… Cleveland should pick it up
The Royals have the worst right field hitting in baseball and are promoting top prospect Jac Caglianone. The Guardians have the second-worst right field hitting in baseball and should promote top prospect Chase DeLauter.
Before I go any further, allow me to state the obvious: only the Guardians and DeLauter know what he needs to do to set himself up for the greatest potential of success physically-speaking. It is very possible that DeLauter is doing various strengthening exercises that fit better with playing in Columbus than the full grind of the major league schedule. However, I will also note that the best medical and training staff in the Guardians’ organization is obviously in the majors, so DeLauter could possibly benefit from coming under their care.
With Nolan Jones recently turning things around at the plate, it makes sense for Jones and Angel Martinez to split time in center field and find some help in right field. Martinez has a 170 wRC+ against LHP this season (and better splits vs. LHP for his minor-league career) and Jones is unplayable against LHP but there is hope vs. RHP (80 wRC+ over the past two years against righties isn’t much, but you’re banking on a bounceback to something slightly in the middle between that and his 140 wRC+ vs. RHP from 2023). The Guardians have a 44 wRC+ from right fielders this season and a 36 wRC+ from centerfielders. They desperately need help in the outfield.
Jac Caglianone has 354 plate appearances from 2024-2025 and Chase DeLauter has 218 plate appearances during the same time. So, perhaps, the argument could be made that DeLauter needs another 140 plate appearances to be at the point of readiness that Caglianone is. However, DeLauter, even with all his injury history, has another 242 plate appearances professionally in 2023 and about 25 more spring training plate appearances. If DeLauter is healthy, he’s, arguably, more due for a promotion than Caglianone and the Guardians are JUST as in need of the outfield hitting help (Royals right fielders have a 35 wRC+). FWIW, the only projection system offering a projection for both players – Steamer – says Caglianone should be able to manage a 102 wRC+ and DeLauter is set for a 106 wRC+. A 106 wRC+ in right field, right now, would feel like Barry Bonds stepped out there to Guardians’ fans.
Caglianone is destroying baseballs with an average Triple-A exit velocity of 93.8 mph, but there are some flaws to his game. He has an out-of-zone swing rate in Triple-A of 33% and a 12.3% swinging strike rate. DeLauter’s average Triple-A exit velocity is 93.3 mph, swings out of zone only 9.8% of the time and has only an 8.4% swinging strike rate. If his somewhat unorthodox swinging form holds up, he looks about as sure a thing to hit major league pitching as you’ll find. And, he’s healthy enough to play right now. If there’s nothing more he has to do to be ready to step on a baseball field, it makes sense to give him his first taste of the big leagues and a chance to help a Guardians’ team trying to win baseball games… just like the Royals are. Daniel Schneemann can give DeLauter a break when needed (with Angel Martinez and Will Wilson helping at second base). Against LHP, the team now has David Fry to help at DH so they can afford whatever lesser production against lefties that DeLauter or Schneemann might (or might not) provide vs. what Jhonkensy Noel can provide.
Promoting Chase DeLauter might work, it might not. He might be able to translate the hitting he has shown at every professional level in the bigs, or he might not. But, what’s not going to work is what the Guardians have been doing in right field and center field for the season so far. With Lane Thomas on the injured list, it’s time (given health) to let Guardians’ best outfield prospect in several years have a chance to help a team firmly in the playoff hunt and firmly in need of help in getting offensive production from their outfield.
(Post-script: I am advocating demoting Jhonkensy Noel to get DeLauter up on the roster, and putting Will Brennan on the 60-Day IL to get him on the 40-man. I haven’t lost faith in the affable Noel, but I’d like to see him get everyday at-bats for a while in Columbus).