Cleveland Guardians Card Collecting: DeLauter, Ramírez, Brito

Posted on April 8, 2026 by Ryan Hershberger

The Corner Cardboard: Guardians’ Topps NOW Wave Is Giving Cleveland Collectors Something Real to Chase

A good baseball card story usually starts with timing. A great one starts with timing and production. That is why the Cleveland Guardians suddenly feel like one of the more interesting teams in the hobby. Over a short stretch, Topps NOW turned a run of meaningful on-field moments into a sharp little snapshot of where this club is right now: a franchise icon still adding to his legacy, a rookie bat forcing his way into the conversation, and another young name starting to draw real collector attention.

Chase DeLauter Topps NOW Opening Day card — DeLauter’s first Topps NOW release captured the two-homer regular-season debut that put him on the hobby radar in a hurry.

Chase DeLauter Topps NOW card for four home runs in first three MLB games — Topps followed with another DeLauter card after his historic power surge to open his big-league career.

Chase DeLauter is the obvious headline. Two separate Topps NOW cards in a matter of days is not normal collector noise. It is a signal that a player has turned a hot start into a hobby event. One card celebrated his club-changing Opening Day thunder. The next pushed the story even further, marking the fact that he became just the second player ever to hit four home runs in his first three MLB games. For a Northeast Ohio collector, that is the kind of sequence that gets sleeves, top loaders and eBay searches moving fast.

Jose Ramirez Topps NOW card for franchise games played record — Ramírez’s record-setting card is less about hype and more about legacy, which is exactly why it matters.

Juan Brito Topps NOW rookie card — Juan Brito added another rookie wrinkle to Cleveland’s recent Topps NOW run.

Then there is José Ramírez, whose latest Topps NOW card hit for an entirely different reason. His release honored Cleveland’s all-time games played mark, giving fans a card tied to franchise history instead of short-term heat. Those are not always the loudest cards in the market, but they tend to age well because they are anchored to something real. And when Juan Brito landed his own Topps NOW card after a multi-hit home debut, the Guardians suddenly had more than one lane in the hobby: legacy, breakout upside and early rookie intrigue.

That is what makes this stretch worth paying attention to. Cleveland is not just showing up in the product cycle. The Guardians are driving it for a week, and that is not something collectors in this market get to say all the time. For anyone building a Cleveland-focused collection, this run feels like more than a pile of daily releases. It feels like a clean cardboard record of a team creating fresh reasons to care.

Sources

Topps NOW Collection
Topps NOW Archive
Chase DeLauter on Baseball-Reference
José Ramírez on Baseball-Reference
Juan Brito on Baseball-Reference

🔥 Corner Wire: Chase DeLauter: Cleveland’s New Baseball Anthem

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Ryan Hershberger

All Things Guardians

How Chase DeLauter Turned “Country Roads” Into Cleveland’s New Right-Field Anthem

The rookie’s hot start has been loud enough on its own. Now the right-field crowd at Progressive Field has given it a soundtrack.

Country Roads – Chase DeLauter style

COUNTRY ROADS, TAKE ME HOME

TO THE PLACE, I BELONG

CHASE DELAUTER, HIT A HOMER

TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS

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There are hot starts, and then there are starts that immediately change the feel of a ballpark. Chase DeLauter has done that for the Cleveland Guardians.

“`

When DeLauter steps in at Progressive Field, the right-field crowd has started putting its own spin on John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” replacing the familiar chorus with a simple request that fits the moment: hit one out. It is part singalong, part rally cry, and part reminder of how quickly a rookie can become appointment viewing in this town.

The timing makes sense. DeLauter’s opening burst has been one of the most electric stories of Cleveland’s first week and a half. MLB noted that he hit five home runs in his first seven regular-season games, a total tied for the second-most in that span in the modern era, and Reuters reported that his two-run shot in the home opener against the Cubs pushed him into a share of the league lead at the time. As of April 7, ESPN lists DeLauter at five home runs, nine RBIs and a 1.048 OPS for the season. That is not just a promising debut. That is impact production right now. MLB | Reuters | ESPN

What stands out most is that the production has arrived with presence. DeLauter does not look rushed by the stage, and the crowd has responded to that confidence. Cleveland has always embraced players who feel like they belong here — players who do not need months to win people over. DeLauter’s bat has handled that part. The walk-up song has taken care of the rest.

There is something fitting about this particular anthem catching on. DeLauter is from Frederick, Maryland, played at James Madison, and carries the kind of blue-collar, no-frills style that lands well in a place like Cleveland. “Country Roads” already had the bones of a crowd song. Now the right-field section has given it a local rewrite, and suddenly every DeLauter plate appearance feels a little bigger, a little louder, and a little more connected to the people in the seats.

That matters over 162 games. Every team talks about energy. Not every team finds it organically. The Guardians may have found it in a rookie right fielder with easy power, a fast start, and a fan base willing to turn his walk-up music into a ballpark tradition before Tax Day.

If DeLauter keeps driving the ball the way he has through the season’s opening stretch, the chorus is only going to spread. And if it does, Progressive Field may have stumbled into one of the best in-game traditions in baseball — one built in real time around a rookie who already looks like he belongs in the middle of Cleveland’s next winning core.

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Fans Are Already Running With It

If the video does not load, click here to watch the reel on Instagram.

🔥 Corner Wire: All Things Guardians — Cleveland’s New Star: Chase DeLauter’s Incredible Debut

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Ryan Hershberger

Chase DeLauter’s Start Is Getting Absurd — and the Power Surge Just Keeps Going

That is not just a nice first week. That is a start that forces everyone to stop what they are doing and look up. DeLauter has not been padding numbers with cheap singles or empty at-bats. He is changing games with real impact swings, and he is doing it in spots that matter. Friday’s blast helped bury the Cubs late. Last weekend in Seattle, he was already doing damage there too, including a game-changing homer that kept his early rampage alive.

⚾ DeLauter’s Current Home Run Pace

Five home runs in seven regular-season games works out to a 162-game pace of 116 home runs. No, nobody is pretending that pace is realistic. But that is exactly the point: the start has been that ridiculous.

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MLB single-season record

116

DeLauter’s current 162-game pace

Pace calculation based on 5 HR in 7 regular-season games.

“`

What makes this even louder is the way it has happened. DeLauter homered twice in his regular-season debut, then kept stacking big swings instead of cooling off. By the time the Guardians got to their home opener, he had already become one of the biggest stories in baseball’s first week. Reuters reported Friday that his latest homer pulled him into a tie for the MLB lead with five.

And Cleveland needs this. The Guardians are never going to live in the same financial universe as the sport’s heavyweights, so when a homegrown bat shows up and starts thumping baseballs into the seats, it changes the mood around the lineup immediately. DeLauter gives the order something it has badly needed at times: fear factor. Pitchers now have to account for real damage every time he steps in.

It is still early, and nobody with a functioning brain should project this exact pace over six months. But that does not mean fans should downplay it, either. Historic is historic, even in small samples. DeLauter’s first week has already put him in rare company, and more importantly for Cleveland, it looks like the power is not fluky. The swings have authority. The ball jumps differently off his bat. And right now, every game feels like it comes with at least one moment where he might leave the yard again.

That is what makes this worth watching beyond the box score. This is not just a prospect arriving. This looks like a middle-of-the-order presence announcing himself as fast as possible.

🎥 Watch the Power Surge

Sources

⚾ THE CORNER RUNDOWN: Cleveland Guardians VS. Chicago Cubs – April 3, 2026

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Ryan Hershberger

The Corner Rundown: Guardians 4, Cubs 1

Date: April 3, 2026
Matchup: Chicago Cubs at Cleveland Guardians
Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

The home opener had the right kind of buzz, and by the seventh inning the ballpark finally got the jolt it was waiting for. Cleveland took down the Cubs 4-1 on Friday afternoon behind a big day from Chase DeLauter, a timely blast from Gabriel Arias, and another steady effort from a bullpen that continues to hold things together.

🔥 Key Performers

Chase DeLauter: 3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI. He tied the game with an RBI single in the fifth, then blew it open with a two-run shot to right in the seventh.
Gabriel Arias: 1-for-4, HR. His solo homer in the seventh gave Cleveland the lead for good.
Joey Cantillo: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 5 K. Not flashy, just effective. He kept the game from getting away early and gave Cleveland a chance to flip it late.
Connor Brogdon: Win in relief. He bridged the middle innings and kept the Cubs from adding on.
Cade Smith: Save No. 2. Clean finish, no drama.
Miguel Amaya: RBI double for Chicago’s only run.

📝 Game Summary

The Cubs struck first in the third when Pete Crow-Armstrong came around to score on Amaya’s double, and for a while it looked like Cleveland might waste a handful of early chances. That changed in the fifth, when DeLauter shot a game-tying single to left to bring home Daniel Schneemann.

Then came the seventh. Arias jumped on a hanging slider and sent it into the seats in right to put the Guardians ahead 2-1. A little later, with Steven Kwan aboard, DeLauter did the real damage. He turned on a Hunter Harvey fastball and sent it 402 feet into right field, giving the Guardians a 4-1 cushion and Progressive Field the kind of home-opener moment people actually remember.

From there, Cleveland’s bullpen shut the door. The Cubs never found another real push, and the Guardians walked off with their third straight home-opener win.

📊 Notable Stats

Cleveland improved to 5-3 with the win.
DeLauter’s homer was his fifth of the season.
The Guardians out-hit Chicago 9-5.
Arias’ homer was his second of the year.
Attendance for the home opener was 36,396.
First pitch temperature was 70 degrees, Cleveland’s warmest March or April opener in decades.

🎥 Watch the Highlights

💰 The Betting Corner

For Friday’s opener, FanDuel had the Cubs listed at -118 on the moneyline with the Guardians at +100. Cleveland not only won outright, but also covered the +1.5 run line comfortably in a 4-1 game.

Looking ahead to Saturday, the Cubs are again the side entering the matchup as the favorite across early market boards, with FanDuel’s game page live for the matchup as of Friday evening. If you’re tracking the angle from Game 1, Cleveland already burned the opener-moneyline crowd once and now gets a chance to make this series uncomfortable in a hurry.

📅 Next Game

Game 2: Chicago Cubs at Cleveland Guardians
Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026
Time: 7:15 PM ET
Location: Progressive Field

Probable Pitchers:
Chicago: Shota Imanaga (LHP)
Cleveland: Slade Cecconi (RHP)

The Guardians got the home opener they wanted: loud crowd, late thunder, and DeLauter looking like a guy who doesn’t care much for easing into the spotlight.

⚾ THE CORNER RUNDOWN: Cleveland Guardians VS. Seattle Mariners– March 28, 2026

Posted on March 29, 2026 by Ryan Hershberger

The Corner Rundown: Guardians 6, Mariners 5 (10 innings)

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Matchup: Cleveland Guardians at Seattle Mariners
Location: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington

🔥 Key Performers

Chase DeLauter stayed absurdly hot and delivered the biggest swing of the night, crushing a two-run homer in the 10th that gave Cleveland the lead for good. That made it four home runs in his first three games — which is just ridiculous no matter how early it is.

José Ramírez helped get the Guardians back in it with an RBI double in the sixth, and in the process joined Tris Speaker and Nap Lajoie as the only players in franchise history with 400 or more doubles.

Kyle Manzardo followed Ramírez with an RBI single in the same inning, helping Cleveland erase an early 2-0 deficit.

Joey Cantillo only lasted 3 2/3 innings, but Cleveland’s bullpen kept the game within reach long enough for the offense to flip it late.

Connor Brogdon had to sweat through a tense bottom of the 10th, but he finished the job and locked down his first save of the season.

On Seattle’s side, Julio Rodríguez came through with a game-tying RBI single in the ninth, and Luke Raley nearly stole it back with a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th.

📝 Game Summary

This one had some bite to it.

Seattle jumped in front early, and for a while it looked like Bryan Woo might just slam the door. He punched out nine and kept Cleveland quiet through the first five innings before the Guardians finally cracked through in the sixth. Ramírez ripped an RBI double, Manzardo followed with a run-scoring single, and suddenly the game was tied.

The Mariners answered late and forced the extra-frame drama, with Rodríguez tying it in the ninth. But Cleveland answered right back in the 10th when DeLauter unloaded on an elevated fastball and sent it over the wall in left. Just like that, the Guardians had breathing room at 6-3.

Of course, it didn’t stay comfortable. Raley’s two-run shot in the bottom half made it a one-run game and turned the final outs into a sweat-fest. Brogdon steadied himself, got the strikeouts Cleveland needed, and the Guardians escaped with a 6-5 win and a 2-1 series lead.

📊 Notable Stats

Final: Guardians 6, Mariners 5 (10 innings)
Chase DeLauter: game-winning 2-run HR in the 10th; 4 HR through his first 3 games
Bryan Woo: 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 9 K
Joey Cantillo: 3.2 IP, 2 ER
José Ramírez: RBI double; reached 400 career doubles
Luke Raley: homered for the third straight game
Connor Brogdon: first save of the season

🎥 Watch the Highlights

💸 The Betting Corner

How the last game performed vs. the spread:
Seattle closed as a -1.5 favorite (-178 moneyline), while Cleveland was +1.5 (+150 moneyline). The Guardians didn’t just cover — they won outright, cashing the moneyline as the dog. The total was 7, and the game flew over after the extra-innings chaos pushed the combined score to 11.

Tonight’s upcoming game odds (FanDuel):
Mariners moneyline: -178
Guardians moneyline: +150
Run line: Mariners -1.5 (+126) / Guardians +1.5 (-152)
Total: 7 (Over -102 / Under -120)

So the board is basically telling the same story again: Seattle is still favored at home, and Cleveland is getting dog value even after taking two of the first three in the series.

📅 Next Game Details

Next Game: Sunday, March 29, 2026
Time: 7:20 PM ET
Matchup: Guardians at Mariners
Location: T-Mobile Park, Seattle
Probable Pitchers: Slade Cecconi (Guardians) vs. Emerson Hancock (Mariners)

Sources used for this post: ESPN/AP recap, Reuters, MLB, FanDuel (March 28 odds), FanDuel (March 29 odds), MLB YouTube highlights.

🔥 Corner Wire: All Things Guardians — The Chase DeLauter Explosion

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Ryan Hershberger

The Corner Wire | All Things Guardians

🔥 All Things Chase DeLauter

The long-awaited Guardians prospect is off to a ridiculous start, and for now, we’re all just along for the ride.

🚀 1. A Start That Doesn’t Make Sense

Let’s just say it: this is absurd.

Chase DeLauter has already launched 3 home runs in his first 2 games, and he’s done it in only about 10 innings of actual game action. That’s not just a hot start. That’s cartoon baseball.

Naturally, that means we should do the totally responsible thing and stretch this out over a full season.

Three home runs in 10 innings puts DeLauter on pace for about 273 home runs over a full 162-game season.

Yes, 273.

That would not just break records. That would absolutely vaporize them.

Is it realistic? Of course not. Is it hilarious and fun to talk about while the bat is on fire? Absolutely.

🏆 2. The Record Chase We’re Pretending Is Real

At his current pace, DeLauter would blow past the biggest single-season home run totals the sport has ever seen.

Here are the names that own the real mountain:

Barry Bonds – 73 home runs in 2001
Mark McGwire – 70 home runs in 1998
Sammy Sosa – 66 home runs in 1998
Aaron Judge – 62 home runs in 2022

At 273, Chase DeLauter would not merely break those records. He would almost quadruple some of them and turn the record book into a comedy sketch.

Obviously, reality is coming. Pitchers will adjust. Cold streaks will happen. The league will stop throwing him anything remotely hittable. That part is guaranteed.

But the reason this is worth talking about is simple: even though the pace is ridiculous, the power itself is very real.

🧬 3. The Chase DeLauter Story

This isn’t some random out-of-nowhere baseball miracle. Guardians fans have been hearing the name Chase DeLauter for a while now, and for good reason.

DeLauter grew up in the Maryland and West Virginia area and developed into one of the most intriguing bats in amateur baseball. He went on to star at James Madison University, where he built the reputation that made him one of the most exciting hitters in the 2022 draft class.

At JMU, he was a monster. He hit for average, got on base, drove the ball, and looked like the kind of hitter who could become a complete offensive force. Big frame. Big leverage. Big raw power. But he wasn’t just a slugger. He also showed discipline and polish at the plate.

That combination is what made him so appealing to Cleveland when the Guardians selected him in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft.

Since then, his prospect path has had both hype and frustration. The talent has always been obvious. The issue has been staying on the field. Injuries slowed portions of his climb through the system, which is part of why fans have been waiting so long for the full breakout.

But when healthy, the production has backed up the buzz.

Throughout his prospect years, DeLauter has looked like the kind of hitter the Guardians system does not produce every day: a physically imposing outfielder with legitimate middle-of-the-order power and the ability to impact a game with one swing.

That’s why this current power surge feels loud. It’s not just because the home runs are leaving in bunches. It’s because this is the exact type of upside people have been dreaming on for years.

⚾ 4. What It Means for the Guardians

No, Chase DeLauter is not going to hit 273 home runs.

But that’s not really the point.

The point is that Guardians fans might finally be watching the arrival of a bat that changes the feel of the lineup.

Cleveland has built a strong identity around contact, pitching, pressure, and development. What this team has often lacked is a true power threat who feels dangerous every single time he steps into the box.

DeLauter has the chance to be that guy.

Realistically, the numbers will level out. The home run pace will come back to earth in a hurry. That’s how baseball works. But if he stays healthy and keeps adjusting, this can still turn into a huge story for the 2026 Guardians.

Maybe he doesn’t chase 273. Maybe he doesn’t sniff 73. Maybe he doesn’t touch any record at all.

But if he becomes a real middle-of-the-order force, a 25-to-35 home run type bat, and a lineup anchor this franchise can build around, that’s more than enough.

For now, though, it’s fair to say this:

Chase DeLauter is on fire, Guardians fans are dreaming big, and “All Things Guardians” has officially become “All Things Chase.”