Jonny DeLuca’s rise with the Tampa Bay Rays hasn’t come in a straight line. It’s taken time, adjustments and a little patience after the 2023-2024 offseason trade that sent Tyler Glasnow out of Tampa Bay and brought back Ryan Pepiot and DeLuca.
Pepiot arrived and quickly became a major piece in the rotation. DeLuca’s path was bumpier.
Big-league adjustment periods and lower-body injuries slowed him down, and the outfielder didn’t immediately settle in the way the Rays hoped. Now, though, he’s starting to look like a regular who fits right into a surging club.
That’s a notable turn for a player whose prospect reputation was built as much on what he lacked as what he could do. Back when he was 23 in the Dodgers’ system, Fangraphs, coming off his 20-home-run season, described him as “a modern fifth outfielder.” The same evaluation pointed to shaky swing choices and questions about whether he could handle center field with enough reliability to get anyone too excited.
The version of DeLuca taking shape now looks a lot more complete. Tampa Bay needed its outfield to be better after last season’s rough collective showing, and DeLuca has become part of the fix. His value has come from a mix that’s hard to miss once you dig in: better at-bats, real pop, and strong defense across all three outfield spots.
One of the clearest changes has been in the bat speed. DeLuca has joined the group of players tweaking their swings to generate more speed through the zone, and his average bat speed has jumped from 70.8 mph to 73.7 mph. Driveline Baseball says every 1 mph increase in bat speed can mean a 1.2 mph bump in potential exit velocity, which helps explain why DeLuca has already posted his best single-season home run total.
He’s also made a noticeable leap in how he handles cutters. DeLuca has long been better against hard stuff than offspeed pitches, but this season he’s taken that edge even further, especially against the cut fastball. His .476 batting average against the cutter puts him among the surprise names near the top of the run-value leaderboard against that pitch.
That growth at the plate is pairing with a glove that has quietly been excellent. DeLuca has been worth 6 outs above average, placing him inside the top 15 among outfielders this season.
For Tampa Bay, that combination matters. The offense and defense are finally matching up, and DeLuca is starting to look like exactly the kind of all-around piece the Rays had in mind.
In Other News...
As Bullpen Gamble Just Put More Focus On One Frustrating Problem
The Rays bullpen churn picked up again this week when right-hander Chris Roycroft was claimed off waivers by the Athletics, another reminder of how little margin Tampa Bay has when it tries to cycle through relief depth. Roycroft brings major league experience and still has options, so he fit the kind of flexible, low-cost arm the Rays tend to keep in circulation as they try to patch together innings and preserve roster flexibility.
His departure also shines a little more light on a familiar frustration for Tampa Bay: there is always another pitching move, another roster shuffle, another arm being tested before the group ever gets a chance to settle. The Rays have built a reputation around doing more with less, but moves like this underline how often the organization is forced back into the market for help, and how much uncertainty still hangs over a bullpen that never seems to stay complete for long. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Future Roster Picture Just Got More Interesting
The Rays kept their minor league pipeline moving this week by pushing first baseman Xavier Isaac and catcher Caden Bodine from Double-A Montgomery to Triple-A Durham, another reminder that the organization is still testing its next wave of bats. Isaac, a first-round pick, has drawn attention for the kind of power and strike-zone feel Tampa Bay likes to bet on, while Bodines rise has been just as notable after arriving from the Baltimore Orioles and climbing through multiple levels this season.
For the Rays, the timing matters as much as the names. Durham is often the last stop before a player starts forcing his way into the big league conversation, and both Isaac and Bodine now get that chance in a more demanding setting. Isaacs ability to control the zone has already stood out, as he led Double-A Montgomery in walks, and Bodines quick ascent gives the front office another look at how his game translates when the competition gets sharper. [Read more 🡒]
A's Add Another Arm As A Costly Roster Consequence Emerges
The Rays roster shuffle this week ended up sending Chris Roycroft elsewhere almost immediately. Tampa Bay designated the right-hander for assignment to clear a spot for Manuel Rodriguezs return from the 60-day injured list, and Roycroft was exposed to waivers after spending time this season with both the Cardinals and Rays.
Oakland moved quickly, claiming Roycroft two days later and making the corresponding 40-man opening by placing shortstop Jacob Wilson on the 60-day injured list. Roycroft is expected to join the Athletics, leaving the Rays with a familiar reminder that one activation can have a ripple effect far beyond the player coming back. [Read more 🡒]