CLEVELAND, Ohio — Chase DeLauter made his debut on Wednesday in a must-win Game 2 for the Guardians. Although he went hitless, it was his defense that helped push Cleveland to a win-or-go-home Game 3 .

In his first at-bat on Thursday against Jack Flaherty, the 23-year-old knocked his first hit in the Majors with a single to right field in the bottom of the second inning. The ball came off his bat at 96.4 mph.

It was only a matter of time for the rookie, as manager Stephen Vogt was impressed with what he saw in DeLauter’s first plate appearances in the bigs after his debut.

“His at-bats were outstanding,” Vogt said of DeLauter. “...Swing decisions and scaring pitchers into the zone. Lay off the borderline pitches, they have to come after you.”

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