JONNY DELUCA NEWS

Remains projected center fielder DeLuca is expected to be the Rays' primary center fielder to begin the regular season, John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact DeLuca produced only a .609 OPS across 362 plate appearances with the Rays in 2024, but he seemingly inherited the center field role after Jose Siri was dealt in the offseason. He hasn't fared any better across 29 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League games, as he has yet to tally an extra-base hit while collecting only five hits across 26 at-bats. DeLuca's defensive ability will still be enough for him to begin the season as a regular, though he'll presumably need to be more productive at the plate to maintain that status.

MARCH 16 • ROTOWIRE

John Romano: 'Crucial' time for Jonny DeLuca in first shot at starting job At age 26, this isn’t exactly make-or-break territory for the outfielder, but he recognizes these opportunities can be rare in an unforgivin...

MARCH 3 • ORLANDOSENTINEL.COM

John Romano: A 'crucial' time for Jonny DeLuca in his first shot at a starting job PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - He is neither a phenom nor an established hitter. He is not a new face and no...

MARCH 2 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Likely to get first shot in CF DeLuca is projected to begin the 2025 season as the Rays' center fielder, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Impact The Rays traded Jose Siri to the Mets during the offseason, creating an opening in center field. DeLuca is expected to fill that void thanks primarily to his defensive ability, though he'll likely need to perform better at the plate to maintain regular at-bats throughout the campaign. He posted just a 77 wRC+ across 362 big-league plate appearances in 2024, and Richie Palacios can also handle center field duties.

FEBRUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Saturday DeLuca isn't in Tampa Bay's lineup Saturday versus Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact After going 1-for-4 during a win in Friday's series opener, DeLuca will take a seat Saturday while Christopher Morel, Jose Siri and Josh Lowe start across the Rays' outfield.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Saturday DeLuca isn't in Tampa Bay's lineup Saturday versus Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact After going 1-for-4 during a win in Friday's series opener, DeLuca will take a seat Saturday while Christopher Morel, Jose Siri and Josh Lowe start across the outfield.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Taking seat Thursday DeLuca is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers.

Impact He'll give way to Jose Siri in center field for the series finale. DeLuca had started in each of the Rays' last three games while going 3-for-9 with a walk.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Absent from starting nine DeLuca is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.

Impact DeLuca's playing time continues to trend downward, as the centerfielder hits the bench for the fifth time in eight games. Once again, Jose Siri will man center field Saturday. In September, DeLuca is 16-for-54 (.296) with two homers and three stolen bases.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

José Berríos strikes out Jonny DeLuca | 09/20/2024 The Official Site of Major League Baseball

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 • MLB.COM

Sitting out Thursday DeLuca is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Red Sox.

Impact DeLuca's playing time has slipped a bit lately, as he's now started just half of the Rays' last eight contests. The club will go with Jose Siri in center field for its series finale against Boston.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Absent from lineup DeLuca is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Red Sox.

Impact DeLuca started the last two games and three of the previous four contests, but he'll begin this one on the bench. Christopher Morel, Jose Siri and Josh Lowe will form the Rays' outfield in the series opener.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Ben Lively fans Jonny DeLuca in the 2nd inning | 09/15/2024 The Official Site of Major League Baseball

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 • MLB.COM

Riding pine Wednesday DeLuca is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

Impact DeLuca's streak of nine consecutive starts will come to an end Wednesday while the Rays roll out a starting outfield trio of Dylan Carlson, Jose Siri and Josh Lowe from left to right. The 26-year-old appears to have secured a regular spot in the lineup after slashing .333/.377/.528 with three home runs and seven stolen bases over his last 20 games.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Slugs decisive homer DeLuca went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 2-0 win over Baltimore.

Impact DeLuca launched his sixth home run of the season off Corbin Burnes in the sixth inning, the only runs scored in the 2-0 victory. The 26-year-old DeLuca has now started nine of the past ten games for Tampa Bay, batting .361 with four extra-base hits, three stolen bases and eight runs scored in 38 plate appearances. On the year, the speedy outfielder owns a disappointing .623 OPS with 27 runs scored, 30 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 93 games.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Jonny DeLuca, Rays topple Orioles Jonny DeLuca belted a two-run homer and Zack Littell led five Tampa Bay pitchers by throwing five shutout innings in the Rays’ 2-0 victory a...

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Jonny DeLuca homers to carry Rays past Orioles 2-0

Zack Littell and four relievers combined on a five-hit shutout, Jonny DeLuca hit a two-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-0

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not in Sunday's lineup DeLuca is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Impact DeLuca has an .819 OPS over his past 10 games but will sit Sunday after starting the first two games of the series versus San Diego. Jose Siri will start in center field and bat ninth.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Sunday's lineup DeLuca is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Impact DeLuca has an .819 OPS over his past 10 games but will sit Sunday after starting the first two games of the series versus San Diego. Jose Siri will start in center field and bat ninth.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Hitting bench Wednesday DeLuca is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

Impact Though he'll cede his spot in the lineup to Dylan Carlson in the series finale, DeLuca seems to have the edge over Carlson and Jose Siri for a regular spot in the outfield alongside Josh Lowe. DeLuca had started in each of the last five games -- including four times against right-handed pitchers -- while going 7-for-18 with a home run, a double and two walks.

AUGUST 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in loss DeLuca went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's loss to the Dodgers.

Impact DeLuca was the lone bright spot in a disappointing offensive day for the Rays and provided their only run on a solo blast in the seventh. It's been a rough month overall for DeLuca, but he's now hit safely in four straight games and has reach a total of six times over the last two games while driving in three. For the year, he's slashing .190/.262/.304 with four homers, 26 RBI, 18 runs, 13 steals and a 21:63 BB:K in 273 plate appearances.

AUGUST 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Hitting bench Thursday DeLuca is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Impact Though he had started in four of the Rays' last five matchups with right-handed pitchers, DeLuca will bow out of the lineup Thursday afternoon while righty Osvaldo Bido takes the hill for Oakland. Dylan Carlson will take DeLuca's spot in the Tampa Bay outfield, manning left while batting third.

AUGUST 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Swipes two bags in win DeLuca went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's win over Oakland.

Impact DeLuca grounded into a fielder's choice play in his second at-bat, scoring Jose Caballero to tie the game at 1-1. The outfielder would then go on to steal second before coming around to score on a Yandy Diaz double. DeLuca reached twice in the contest and swiped his 12th and 13th bags of the season. He's now recorded two steals in two of his last three games.

AUGUST 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Jonny DeLuca scores on error in the 9th, Rays beat Diamondbacks 5-4

Jonny DeLuca scored on an error in the ninth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Arizona 5-4 on Friday night to end the Diamondbacks’ season-high winning streak at six games

AUGUST 17, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Getting fourth straight start DeLuca will start in right field and bat leadoff in Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Impact DeLuca will crack the lineup for the fourth game in a row -- all against right-handed starting pitchers -- and will occupy the leadoff spot for the second straight contest after going 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Saturday's 7-5 loss. With Richie Palacios (knee) on the injured list and with Jose Siri producing a weak .605 OPS since the All-Star break, DeLuca looks to have moved into a near-everyday role in the Tampa Bay outfield after previously operating as a short-side platoon player.

AUGUST 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Heading to bench Wednesday DeLuca is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact DeLuca had started in three of the Rays' last four matchups with right-handers but will head to the bench Wednesday while the Cardinals send righty Erick Fedde to the hill. Dylan Carlson will pick up a start in left field in DeLuca's stead.

AUGUST 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE