With Jonny DeLuca in Center, Have the Rays addressed an important need?

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – During the recent off-season, Erik Neander, the Tampa Bay Rays’ president of baseball operation, held a critical need close to the vest. In his review of the 2024 season last October, Neander told reporters the Rays’ priority was an everyday catcher and hitters who could provide more offensive punch.

Neander did not disclose that the Rays had an acute need in center field and reporters assumed Jose Siri, the incumbent, would pass quietly under the radar screen. To his credit, Siri banged out 18 home runs a year ago, good for second most on the club, and drove in 47 runs, second most in his major league career. That production came off a 25 homer-56 RBIs season the year before. Coupled with elite defense skills, the prospect of Siri manning the gardens in center field was postulated.

While his production was noteworthy, Siri’s .187 batting average last season was a serious liability. He struck out 170 times in 402 plate appearances and his Ks topped the Rays. At the same time, he drew only 31 walks in those 400-plus times at bat and no intentional walks. Plus, he was caught stealing seven times and stole 14 bases. That means he was thrown out in one-third of his attempts.

All of this did not sit well with Rays’ decision-makers and decided Siri’s time in central Florida was at an end. On Nov. 19, he was dealt to the New York Mets for Eric Orze, a right-handed relief pitcher.

That move elevated Jonny DeLuca into the vital center field position.

Traded from his hometown Dodgers to the Rays in the Tyler Glasnow deal during the 2023-24 off-season, the 26-year-old from Thousand Oaks met an immediate difficulty. In a spring game against Boston on March 11 in the Dominican Republic, DeLuca suffered a broken right hand when struck by a pitch. That set back DeLuca, at 5-11, 190 pounds nearly two months and he appeared in 107 games. For his 332-plate appearance, DeLuca hit. 217 with only 22 extra hits and drove in 31 runs.

Now with a full off-season of recovery, acclamation to the Rays, and a comfort level driven by strong confidence as the Rays’ everyday centerfielder, DeLuca told reporters here in camp that the season ahead will be totally different.

“Last year was tough coming in and not knowing anyone,” he said. “Now, you know everyone from staff, coaches and players. It’s just good to be back. It’s definitely encouraging that they believe in my ability, and I believe in my ability. So, this year means going out, working hard and doing everything to be the best player I can be.”

When DeLuca came over from the Dodgers, he was penciled in as the fourth outfielder. With Josh Lowe in right, Randy Arozarena in left and Siri in enter, DeLuca was brought in as an outfielder who could step into any one of the three garden slots. Now with Siri traded, the keys to the kingdom have been handed over to DeLuca.

“I expect (DeLuca) to go out there and man center field,” said field manager Kevin Cash. “He played really good defense for us throughout the entire season. As much as the offense may have been some inconsistencies, the defense never wavered. I do think we will get a better offensive player just with more consistent reps. Let’s not forget he got nicked on a pitch in spring training that broke his hand. That’s tough (after his broken hand) and when try and get back to that previous form, that’s challenging.”

DeLuca is the first to recognize the demands of a complete recovery and the clear reality of time as a deciding factor. That means the time window for a full recovery, the stature returning from a successful past, and the prospect for a production future all require patience and understanding.

“In the off-season, I worked on some swing stuff, getting back where I was and I guess that would be two years ago,” he said. “I feel that last year was offensively not where I wanted to be. I’m shortening things up, making some micro adjustments here and there and that plays a big different hitting-wise. It may not look super different, but it feels really good right now.”

On the diamond … the Rays earned their first win of the spring on Sunday with a 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Cool Today Stadium in North Port. Curtis Mead, a native of Adelaide, Australia, led the Rays with a 3-for-3 afternoon and started at first base. The Rays jumped out to a 4-0 advantage and then held off the Braves for the initial win. Left-hander Joe Rocks, acquired from the Rockies before the beginning of last season, pitched two innings and gained the win. … on Monday, the Rays take on the Minnesota Twins at Port Charlotte. Righthander Zack Littell (8-10, 3.63 ERA in 29 starts)) receives his first start of the spring. On Tuesday against the Phillies, also in Port Charlottle, right hander Taj Bradley (8-11, 4.11 ERA in 25 starts) gets his initial start of the spring.

The post With Jonny DeLuca in Center, Have the Rays addressed an important need? first appeared on Through The Fence Baseball.

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