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DeLuca is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks after an MRI revealed a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Though the Grade 1 diagnosis is the least severe, the Rays nevertheless anticipate a lengthy absence for the outfielder. DeLuca had been serving as the Rays' primary right fielder of late, and in the two games since he got hurt, the club has used Ryan Vilade once (against a lefty) and Victor Mesa once (against a righty) at the position.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Shelved with hamstring strain
Rotowire
The Rays placed DeLuca on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a right hamstring strain.
DeLuca strained his right hamstring while running the bases during Friday's 4-2 win over the Yankees. The 27-year-old outfielder will be eligible to return from the shelf June 3, but it's unclear if he'll have a shot at rejoining the Rays at that time. Victor Mesa was recalled from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move and could work in a platoon in right field with Ryan Vilade while DeLuca is on the IL.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Likely IL bound
Rotowire
Manager Kevin Cash said that DeLuca suffered a hamstring injury during Friday's game against the Yankees and will likely be placed on the injured list, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The severity of DeLuca's injury remains unclear, but the Rays have already determined that the situation warrants keeping him on the shelf for at least 10 days. Victor Mesa is expected to take DeLuca's place on the active roster, as he was removed from his game at Triple-A Durham shortly after DeLuca went down.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Exits with injury
Rotowire
DeLuca was removed from Friday's game against the Yankees with an apparent lower-body injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
DeLuca appeared to tweak something while running from first to third on Cedric Mullins' double in the seventh inning. It's unclear what exactly he's dealing with, but the Rays could have an update on his status after the game. If the 27-year-old has to miss any time, Ryan Vilade would likely be the next man up to replace DeLuca as Tampa Bay's right fielder.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Playing time on rise
Rotowire
DeLuca will start in center field and bat fifth in Monday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays have deployed DeLuca as a short-side platoon player for most of the season, but he could get the chance to play more regularly against right-handed pitching after Jake Fraley (hernIa) was placed on the injured list Sunday. Though he'll be included in the lineup against Orioles lefty Trevor Rogers on Monday, DeLuca started versus righties in the final two games of the Rays' weekend series versus Miami.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Stuffs stat sheet in win Tuesday
Rotowire
DeLuca went 3-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 7-6 extra-inning win over the Blue Jays.
DeLuca doubled home a run off lefty starter Patrick Corbin in the first inning and doubled again off struggling reliever Jeff Hoffman in the seventh. He later singled and stole his sixth base of the season in the top of the ninth. DeLuca now has three multi-hit games in his last 10 appearances and is slashing .280/.316/.441 with two home runs, 15 RBI, 16 runs scored, six stolen bases and a 5:19 BB:K across 99 plate appearances this season.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Logs fifth steal
Rotowire
DeLuca went 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Thursday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.
DeLuca was in the lineup for the third time in four games since the Rays have faced three left-handed starters in that stretch. The outfielder is firmly in a short-side platoon role, but he offers a bit of speed and decent contact skills when he plays. He's batting .284 with a .762 OPS, two home runs, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored, seven doubles and five steals on six attempts over 86 plate appearances. He has appeared in all seven of the Rays' games in May so far, going 6-for-21 (.286) for the month.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Handling short-side platoon role
Rotowire
DeLuca went 1-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Toronto.
DeLuca doubled off Blue Jays southpaw Patrick Corbin for his seventh two-bagger of the year. While DeLuca tends to sit versus right-handed pitching, he's been effective in his part-time role for the Rays. Over 34 at-bats against left-handers, the righty-hitting outfielder is batting .294 with two home runs, four doubles and nine RBI.
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Rays' Jake Fraley: Taking seat Sunday
Rotowire
Fraley is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Even with the Rays facing right-hander Mitch Keller in the series finale, Fraley will cede his spot in right field to Jonny DeLuca. Fraley has recorded hits in five of his last six starts but is still holding down a pedestrian .227/.292/.364 slash line over 48 plate appearances.
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Rays' Cedric Mullins: Hits extra-innings homer in win
Rotowire
Mullins went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and three RBI in Saturday's 8-7 extra-innings win over the Pirates.
Mullins singled home Jonny DeLuca in the fifth inning and later delivered the eventual game-winning homer with a two-run shot to break a 6-6 tie in the top of the 13th. It was Mullins' second homer of the season. The veteran has had a rough go of things at the plate in his first season with the Rays, slashing .149/.205/.284 with just four extra-base hits, eight RBI, seven runs scored, three stolen bases and a 3:16 BB:K across 75 plate appearances.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Hits three-run homer in win
Rotowire
DeLuca went 1-for-1 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's win over the White Sox.
DeLuca entered the game as a pinch hitter for Jake Fraley in the seventh inning and took Tyler Gilbert deep with a three-run blast to bolster the Rays' lead to 8-0. This was DeLuca's second homer of the season, and it was also the third straight game in which he drove in at least one run. DeLuca has also hit safely in four of his last five games, notching a .824 OPS in 17 at-bats over that stretch.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Notches first steal
Rotowire
DeLuca went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Cubs.
DeLuca notched his first steal of the season on his second attempt. He's been in a short-side platoon role to begin the campaign, going 6-for-21 (.286) with one home run, four RBI, five runs scored and a double over nine contests. DeLuca provides depth around the outfield for the Rays, though he could push Cedric Mullins, who is batting .122 through 11 games, for playing time in center field.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Drives in two in OD loss
Rotowire
DeLuca went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Thursday's 9-7 loss to the Cardinals.
With left-hander Matthew Liberatore on the mound for St. Louis, DeLuca got the start in right field and batted sixth for Tampa Bay. He drove in a pair with a single in the sixth inning. DeLuca missed most of the 2025 season battling shoulder, hamstring and quadriceps injuries, requiring two stints of the 60-day injured list. Now healthy, DeLuca figures to see regular playing time against left-handed pitching to begin the season.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: In Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
DeLuca (hamstring/quad) will start in center field and bat seventh during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
DeLuca ended the 2025 campaign on the 60-day IL with a right quad strain, but after a full offseason of recovery, he's ready to return to the field for the Rays' spring opener. As one of the team's few right-handed outfield bats, the 27-year-old figures to see regular action against southpaws this year.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: In line for short-side role
Rotowire
DeLuca (hamstring/quad) is likely to see regular at-bats against left-handed pitching this season, per John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times.
DeLuca stands out as one of Tampa Bay's few right-handed-hitting outfielders, considering the club's primary options consist of as lefty-hitters Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins and Jake Fraley. DeLuca ended the 2025 season on the 60-day injured list due to a right quadriceps strain, so he'll need to prove he's healthy during spring training before the Rays trust him to handle this role. The 27-year-old posted a promising .812 OPS with six stolen bases through 59 regular-season plate appearances amidst an injury-plagued 2025 campaign, and it doesn't sound like he'll open the new year in a spot for everyday action.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Rays transferred DeLuca (hamstring/quad) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
DeLuca has already been ruled out for the rest of the year after suffering a right quad strain at Triple-A Durham, so the Rays will move him to the 60-day IL to free up a 40-man roster spot for Garrett Acton.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Out for season with quad injury
Rotowire
DeLuca suffered a right quad strain during a rehab game at Triple-A Durham and will miss the remainder of the season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Injuries to DeLuca's shoulder and hamstring have limited him to just 20 games in the majors this season, during which he slashed .333/.356/.456 with four RBI, five runs scored and six stolen bases. Now dealing with a quad injury, the Rays will shut the 27-year-old down for the year and pivot to getting him ready for the start of the 2026 campaign.
