Watch: Former West Virginia Player of Year Picks Up First MLB Hit in Playoff Game

Chase DeLauter might be currently playing for a team from Cleveland, Ohio, but he will always represent West Virginia wherever he goes. And after walking up to the plate to the sound of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” playing at Progressive Field, DeLauter achieved a major career milestone in the middle of a playoff game.

The former West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year picked up his first MLB hit in his first at-bat of Thursday’s the decisive game of the American League Wild Card Round.

Chase DeLauter's first Major League hit comes in the #Postseason! pic.twitter.com/KueX0Oh3ef

— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2025

DeLauter’s first hit comes a day after he made his MLB debut in the second game of the series, a win for Cleveland that tied the series at 1-1.

DeLauter, a Maryland native, attended Hedgesville High School in Hedgesville, W.Va., where he played football, basketball and baseball. He then played college baseball at JMU before bering drafted by the Guardians in the 16th overall selection of the first round in the 2022 MLB Draft.