The Cleveland Guardians today announced the selection of OF CHASE DeLAUTER with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
DeLauter, 20, has three collegiate seasons under his belt at James Madison University (VA), slashing .402/.520/.715 with 15 homers and 70 RBI over 66 career games. The 6-5, 235-pound native of Martinsburg, West Virginia started 24 games during his 2022 redshirt sophomore campaign, batting .437 (38-for-87, 8 2B, 8HR, 35 RBI) while producing a program-record .576 on-base percentage after entering the season as a member of five different preseason All-America teams (season ended in April after 24 games due to a broken foot). He is a two-time All-Colonial Athletic Association selection, including first team honors in 2021.
DeLauter, who compiled a career 1.37 walk-to-strikeout ratio (62 BB, 45 K) at James Madison, received the Robert A. McNeese Outstanding Pro Prospect Award following his 2021 performance in the Cape Cod League as a member of the Orleans Firebirds, batting .298 with a .986 OPS in 34 games while pacing the league in runs (27) and tying for the lead in homers (9). He becomes the first player from James Madison University to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft.
