SEATTLE -- Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter hit two home runs in his major league regular-season debut, powering his team to a 6-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on March 26, 2026, at T-Mobile Park.[1][2]

The 24-year-old right-handed hitter, drafted by Cleveland in the third round in 2022 out of James Madison University, connected for a 358-foot solo home run off Mariners starter Logan Gilbert's slider in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.[1][2][3] He added a 422-foot solo shot off reliever Cooper Criswell's cutter in the ninth for a key insurance run, making it 6-4.[1][2]

DeLauter went 3-for-5 with two RBI in the game.[1][2] He became the sixth player in MLB history to hit two home runs in a regular-season debut.[1]

His first-inning homer made him the fifth player in the Guardians' franchise history -- dating to 1901 -- to homer in his first career regular-season at-bat, and the first since Jhonkensy Noel on June 26, 2024.[4][5]

DeLauter had previously appeared for Cleveland in the American League Wild Card Series the previous fall. Limited by injuries during three minor league seasons, he played in 138 games in the organization.[3]

"That’s something I’ll never forget," DeLauter said of his postseason debut. "I won’t forget this one either, don’t get me wrong."[2]

Guardians reliever Erik Sabrowski said of DeLauter: "He’s not from this planet," according to The Athletic.[6]

The Guardians (1-0) visit the Mariners (0-1) again on March 27, 2026, at 9:45 p.m. ET.[1]

Sources

1. MLB.com
   Mariners vs. Guardians Final Box Score (March 26, 2026)
   March 26, 2026
   https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-guardians/2026/03/26/778012/final/box
2. ESPN
   Guardians 6-4 Mariners (Mar 26, 2026) Final Score
   March 27, 2026
   https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401654321
3. MLB.com
   Chase DeLauter Player Page
   Accessed March 27, 2026
   https://www.mlb.com/player/chase-delauter-680736
4. MLB.com
   Guardians rally in 9th for 7-5 win vs. Tigers (June 26, 2024 game)
   June 27, 2024
   https://www.mlb.com/news/guardians-rally-in-9th-for-win-vs-tigers
5. Cleveland.com
   Jhonkensy Noel homers in first career at-bat as Guardians beat Tigers
   June 27, 2024
   https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2024/06/jhonkensy-noel-homers-in-first-career-at-bat-as-guardians-beat-tigers.html
6. The Athletic
   Guardians' DeLauter crushes two homers in debut win over Mariners
   March 27, 2026
   https://theathletic.com/mlb-guardians-delauter-debut-mariners/