Guardians Rookie DeLauter Makes History with Fourth Home Run in Just Third Career Game

Chase DeLauter continues rewriting baseball history with every swing, blasting his fourth career home run to propel the Cleveland Guardians past the Seattle Mariners 6-5 in extra innings Friday night and cementing his place among the sport's most remarkable rookie debuts.

The 23-year-old outfielder's two-run shot off Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz in the 10th inning at T-Mobile Park not only secured Cleveland's victory but elevated him into exclusive company as just the third player in Major League Baseball history to homer in each of his first three games.

DeLauter joins Seattle's Kyle Lewis (2019) and Colorado's Trevor Story, who achieved the unprecedented feat of four consecutive home runs to begin his career in 2016. The rookie's explosive start has transformed him from organizational prospect to national sensation in less than a week.

"When he extended his arms on that elevated fastball, you could see the confidence," observed one scout in attendance. DeLauter's swing looked effortless as he turned on Muñoz's offering and deposited it well beyond the left-field wall for the decisive blow.

The dramatic finish capped a thrilling back-and-forth contest that showcased both teams' late-inning resilience. Seattle had forced extra innings when Julio Rodríguez delivered a clutch two-out, two-strike RBI single off Cleveland's Cade Smith in the ninth, tying the game at 3-3 and setting the stage for DeLauter's heroics.

DeLauter's meteoric rise began Thursday when he became just the fifth player in the Guardians' 126-year franchise history to homer in his first career regular-season at-bat. That achievement alone would have made for a memorable debut, but the young slugger had no intention of stopping there.

The Guardians' offensive attack featured contributions throughout the lineup. José Ramírez continued his assault on franchise record books with an RBI double in the sixth inning, joining baseball legends Tris Speaker (486) and Nap Lajoie (424) as the only players with 400 or more doubles in Cleveland's storied history.

Kyle Manzardo provided additional run support with a crucial RBI single, helping Cleveland build the lead that would prove necessary for DeLauter's late-game heroics to carry maximum impact.

Seattle starter Bryan Woo delivered an outstanding performance through six innings, limiting Cleveland to just two runs while recording nine strikeouts. The young right-hander displayed the control and stuff that made him one of baseball's most promising pitchers, keeping the Guardians off balance for most of the evening.

The Mariners received their own dose of individual brilliance from Luke Raley, who extended his home run streak to three consecutive games with a two-run blast in the 10th inning. Raley's power surge has provided Seattle with consistent offensive production during the early season.

Cal Raleigh, the 2025 American League MVP runner-up, finally broke through with his first hit of the season via an RBI single in the opening frame. The catcher had endured a frustrating start to the campaign, striking out in each of his first eight at-bats before finding his timing against Cleveland pitching.

Cleveland's bullpen ultimately secured the victory despite the late drama. Connor Brogdon entered to start the 10th inning and showed remarkable composure, striking out Leo Rivas and Cole Young with runners on base to earn his first save of the season.

The victory represents an early statement for a Guardians team hoping to build on recent success. With DeLauter providing unprecedented rookie production and veterans like Ramírez continuing their excellence, Cleveland appears positioned for another competitive campaign.

For DeLauter, the pressure now shifts to sustaining this impossible pace. Baseball history suggests that maintaining such torrid home run production is virtually impossible, but the rookie has already achieved what most players never dream of accomplishing.

As Cleveland prepares for Saturday's contest with Slade Cecconi taking the mound against Seattle's Emerson Hancock, all eyes will focus on whether DeLauter can extend his remarkable streak and further etch his name into baseball folklore.

The game serves as a reminder that baseball's magic often emerges from unexpected sources, transforming unknown rookies into household names through moments of brilliance that capture the sport's imagination.