CLEVELAND – Collectively, they’ve played a total of 80 games but you wouldn’t know it from watching them perform with the Cleveland Guardians.
Right fielder Chase DeLauter and second baseman Travis Bazzana are both in their first season in the big leagues. If the two keep playing like this, both should be in the running for American League Rookie of the Year.
The American League Central Division-leading Guardians keep making headlines and the font keeps getting bigger when DeLauter and Bazzana are the talking points.
They each played a key part in Cleveland’s 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, May 27
“They’re confident,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “They know they belong in the big leagues. We talk all the time about our guys. When you get here, you’re happy, but you’ve got to figure out how to stay.
“Then it clicks. ‘I know I’m a big leaguer,’ and from Day 1, both Travis and Chase, when they walk through the door, they know they’re big leaguers and they’re playing like it.”
It was hard to ignore in the 3-2 series finale win over the Nationals on May 27.
Bazzana had his first career multi-extra-base hit game with two doubles. Had James Wood not robbed him of a home run in the sixth inning his 2-for-4 day would have been more spectacular.
“He’s extremely consistent,” DeLauter said. “I mean, whether his swing is hot or not, you can’t tell. He shows up every day, has competitive at-bats, works the box, doesn’t swing at balls, hits the strikes hard. I mean, what more can you ask for?”
Chase DeLauter’s stats
DeLauter’s 31 RBIs lead the team and he ranks third among rookies, trailing only Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds (35) and Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox (39). One of DeLauter’s RBIs came on a single in Cleveland’s decisive three-run rally in the fifth inning against the Nationals
DeLauter also leads the team in multi-hit games. He’s second on the team in doubles (11) and third in home runs (seven). He’s hitting .260 through his first 192 at-bats, with a .342 on-base percentage and a .780 OPS.
“I’ve seen him do some pretty incredible things,” Bazzana said. “Obviously, we’ve all seen that, but yeah, he’s going to be great for a long time. Chase is one of the most skilled, athletic and powerful baseball players I’ve ever seen.”
Not arrogance, just confidence from Travis Bazzana, Chase DeLauter
There’s an air of confidence in them as well.
It’s not an arrogance, but a knowing that their game translates to the big leagues.
For DeLauter, 24, making the club out of spring training has allowed him to settle in.
He’s hitting .260 with a .780 OPS but more importantly has a .342 on-base percentage, as he now hits in the three hole for the Guardians.
Travis Bazzana settling into leadoff spot in Guardians lineup
Bazzana, 23, came in as the No. 1 pick in the 2024 MLB draft and has already batted leadoff five times, including the win over the Nationals.
Vogt toyed with the idea in the last homestand and since then Bazzana is hitting .421 with a 1.318 OPS in that spot.
“My preparation for the game is good,” Bazzana said. “The hits, the extra-base hits, the walks, those things will come and there might be some waves, but I’ve just been on the process and I’m comfortable leading off.”
Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.com and is on X at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Chase DeLauter, Travis Bazzana look like Rookie of the Year candidates
Reporting by Brad Bournival, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
