Jonny DeLuca Bio
Jonathan Davis DeLuca (born July 10, 1998) is an American professional baseball outfielder who currently plays for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Standing out as a versatile outfielder with notable pop for his position, DeLuca made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 before being traded to the Rays in December of that year. Now wearing jersey No. 21, he has emerged as a depth piece and athletic contributor in the Tampa Bay outfield.
Early Life and Background
Jonny DeLuca attended Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, California, where he developed into a draft-eligible prospect. His performance at the high school level drew the attention of MLB scouts, and he was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 39th round of the 2017 MLB draft. Rather than begin his professional career immediately, DeLuca chose to honor his college commitment and continue his development in the amateur ranks.
Following his high school career, DeLuca enrolled at the University of Oregon, where he played two seasons of college baseball for the Ducks. During the summer of 2018, he joined the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, the top collegiate summer circuit in the United States. His play in Cape Cod that summer earned him a league all-star selection, further raising his profile ahead of the next MLB draft.
Path to Major League Baseball
After two seasons at Oregon, DeLuca entered the 2019 MLB draft and was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 25th round, with the 761st overall pick. He signed with the organization and reported to the rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers, where he hit .273 across 26 games in his first professional campaign. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, postponing his on-field progression.
DeLuca returned in 2021 and split time between the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and the High-A Great Lakes Loons, combining to hit .264 with 22 home runs and 64 RBI over 101 games. He opened 2022 with Great Lakes before earning a promotion to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, where he batted .260 with 25 home runs and 71 RBI across 98 total games. On November 15, 2022, the Dodgers added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, signaling his arrival as a legitimate big-league prospect.
Jonny DeLuca Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
DeLuca began his professional climb in the Dodgers’ system in 2019, opening at the Arizona League and adjusting to wooden bats. After the lost 2020 season, he surged through the lower minors in 2021, showing surprising power for a young outfielder. By 2022 he had reached Double-A Tulsa, and the Dodgers rewarded his development by placing him on the 40-man roster that offseason.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2023)
DeLuca returned to Tulsa to begin 2023 and was promoted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers on May 16, 2023. Just weeks later, on June 4, the Dodgers called him up to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut on June 7, 2023, against the Cincinnati Reds as the starting centerfielder, going hitless in two at-bats but drawing a walk. His first major league hit came on June 9, a single to center field off Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Ranger Suárez.
On July 4, 2023, DeLuca launched his first MLB home run, taking Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Ángel Perdomo deep. He appeared in 24 games for the Dodgers that season, batting .262 with two home runs and six RBI before being optioned back to the minors. Between Oklahoma City and Tulsa in 2023, he played 73 games and hit .294 with 17 home runs and 53 RBI, cementing his status as a prospect on the rise.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2024–Present)
On December 16, 2023, the Dodgers traded DeLuca and pitcher Ryan Pepiot to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-hander Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot, reshaping the trajectories of players on both sides. DeLuca stepped into a more regular role with Tampa Bay in 2024, making 107 appearances and batting .217/.278/.331 with six home runs, 31 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. His blend of speed and right-handed pop provided the Rays with a useful complementary piece in the outfield.
DeLuca opened 2025 by erupting at the plate, hitting .435 with one RBI and four stolen bases over his first nine games. A right shoulder strain sent him to the injured list on April 8, 2025, and he was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 27. After returning on July 25, he batted .333/.356/.456 with four RBI and six stolen bases across 20 games before a left hamstring strain in August landed him back on the IL. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on September 13, officially ending his 2025 campaign. On May 25, 2026, DeLuca was ruled out for six-to-eight weeks after suffering a right hamstring strain.
Driving Style and Strengths
DeLuca profiles as an athletic outfielder whose value is driven by right-handed power, speed on the basepaths, and dependable outfield coverage. He has shown the ability to play all three outfield spots, giving his manager lineup flexibility. His combination of plate discipline and stolen-base instincts makes him a natural fit for a contact-and-power complementary role.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include his MLB debut on June 7, 2023, his first hit on June 9, 2023, and his first MLB home run on July 4, 2023. His inclusion in the December 2023 Glasnow–Margot blockbuster trade stands as one of the defining transactions of his early career, marking his transition into an everyday opportunity with the Rays.
Jonny DeLuca Career Wins
Jonny DeLuca’s win totals are anchored in his minor league ascent and his growing MLB résumé. Across his professional career, he has accumulated impressive power and run-production numbers in the Dodgers and Rays systems, even as injuries have occasionally interrupted his momentum. Below is a summary of his verifiable highlights to date.
Tampa Bay Rays Highlights
In his first full season with Tampa Bay, DeLuca played 107 games in 2024, hitting .217/.278/.331 with six home runs, 31 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. His early 2025 surge, batting .435 with four steals in nine games, marked one of the hottest stretches of his career before injuries intervened. Across his Rays tenure, he has provided a right-handed bat capable of impacting the game on the bases and in the outfield.
Other Wins and Performances
DeLuca’s minor league résumé includes his 2022 season between Great Lakes and Tulsa, where he hit .260 with 25 home runs and 71 RBI across 98 games, and his 2023 split between Oklahoma City and Tulsa, where he batted .294 with 17 home runs and 53 RBI across 73 games. His Cape Cod League all-star nod in 2018 underscored his offensive ceiling and helped set the stage for his draft selection the following year.
Jonny DeLuca Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Jonny DeLuca’s immediate family background are limited, and there is no widely documented multi-generational baseball lineage attached to his name. He grew up in Agoura Hills, California, and developed into a draft prospect through Agoura High School before continuing his career at the University of Oregon.
Personal Life
DeLuca keeps his personal life largely private, and no public information about a spouse, partner, or children is currently available. He continues to be identified professionally by his full name, Jonathan Davis DeLuca, and by his longtime nickname Jonny.
2025 Season Performance
Jonny DeLuca’s 2025 season was a tale of two sharply contrasting chapters. He opened the year on a tear, slashing .435/.435/.435 with one RBI and four stolen bases across his first nine games and looking like a potential breakout piece of the Rays’ outfield puzzle. The hot start, however, was interrupted on April 8 when a right shoulder strain sent him to the injured list.
DeLuca was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 27 before being activated on July 25, immediately rewarding the Rays with a .333/.356/.456 line, four RBI, and six stolen bases over 20 games. Unfortunately, a left hamstring strain on August 8 landed him back on the IL, and a September 13 transfer to the 60-day list officially ended his season. Through the injuries, DeLuca flashed the offensive ceiling that made him a key piece in the Glasnow–Margot trade and reinforced his value as a right-handed power-speed outfielder.
