Jonny DeLuca DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

According to Adam Berry of MLB.com, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jonny DeLuca is expected to begin the season as the team's starting center fielder. Last summer, Jose Siri was the everyday center fielder in Tampa Bay, but he was traded to the New York Mets during the offseason. As a result, DeLuca stands at the top of the depth chart and is expected to open the season as the top option. Across 107 games in Tampa Bay last summer, the Oregon product held a .217/.278/.331 line with 12 doubles, six home runs, and 16 stolen bases. While he did not generate elite hitting metrics, he was a top defender with speed. He placed in the 93rd percentile in outs above average and the 98th percentile in sprint speed. Richie Palacios will likely open the season as the No. 2 option behind DeLuca. If DeLuca has a successful spring training, he could be worth a look in deeper category formats as he has flashed elite speed.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jonny DeLuca is not in the team's starting lineup on Wednesday in the contest versus the visiting Boston Red Sox. It's the second straight game that DeLuca has been on the after a stretch where it looked like he was taking over regular center field duties from Jose Siri. Josh Lowe is in center field on Wednesday and is batting second, while Richie Palacios is in right field and is hitting eighth against Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello. DeLuca will continue to see chances in Tampa's outfield, but it looks like it will continue to be sporadic playing time and could mostly only come against left-handed starters. The 25-year-old former 25th-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 out of Oregon has hit better than Siri this year, going 12-for-46 (.261) with two homers, 12 RBI and four stolen bases.

Tampa Bay Rays rookie outfielder Jonny DeLuca hit a go-ahead home run Saturday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays' Nate Pearson. He also stole a base after getting the start in right field today. DeLuca is hitting .306 through 14 games with two home runs, 12 RBI, and three stolen bases. He has been productive in a small sample size despite a crowded outfield that also includes Josh Lowe, Jose Siri, and Randy Arozarena. DeLuca may be a rosterable outfielder in deeper leagues at this time while he stays hot.