Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter played a crucial role in the team's win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night. The Guardians right fielder went 3-5 with one RBI and three runs scored while falling a triple short of the cycle. Cleveland fans have known about DeLauter's potential for a long time, but some casual fans may be learning of DeLauter for the first time in these MLB playoffs. For those who may not be aware, DeLauter was a standout rookie throughout the 2026 campaign who hit .287 with an .820 OPS, 16 home runs, 30 doubles and three triples across 133 games played.

Mark DeRosa of MLB Network even compared DeLauter to five-time All-Star and former Yankees standout Paul O'Neill on Tuesday morning.

“When I watch him last night, I can't help but think that his swing reminds me of a young Paul O'Neill,” DeRosa said. “I know he doesn't have the leg-kick working, but Paul was a guy that was a hitter first and power second… O'Neill, 1987 through 2001, look at (the statistics). He's got a long way to go, he's gotta to do it for the rest of his career, but the numbers are crazy similar.”

Mark DeRosa of @MLBNetwork compared Chase DeLauter and former Yankees standout and 5-time All-Star Paul O'Neill.

Here's the similar stats that were shared during the segment, credit to MLB Network. https://t.co/asvKri1yNz pic.twitter.com/7kSDojEvsa

— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) October 13, 2026

MLB Network displayed the similar statistics between the players, showing O'Neill's stats from 1987-2001 compared to DeLauter's 2026 numbers. DeLauter hit .287 with a .363 OBP while O'Neill hit .288 with a .364 OBP. Additionally, DeLauter's .457 slugging percentage and 131 WRC+ are not far off from O'Neill's .470 slugging percentage and 120 WRC+.

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Another comparison that was made was their approaches to hitting. Both players are big guys who certainly had power, but hitting comes first for both of them. DeLauter has more home run potential that he can unlock as his career unfolds, but he's not currently a guy who is going to trade batting average for a few more long balls. O'Neill had a similar approach.

If DeLauter ends up having a similar career to O'Neill, Cleveland wouldn't complain about five All-Star selections and five World Series championships.