Jonny DeLuca

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #9 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: A top long jumper and relay runner in high school, Deluca showed plenty of athleticism as Oregon’s center fielder, but hit just .226 in two seasons with the Ducks. The Dodgers drafted him in the 25th round as a draft-eligible sophomore and signed him for $300,000, equivalent to sixth-round money. Deluca dropped switch-hitting as a pro and flourished at the plate while maintaining his athleticism. He rapidly climbed the minors and made his major league debut in 2023, batting .262 with two homers in 24 games. He was traded to the Rays in the trade that sent Tyler Glasnow to Los Angeles.
  
  Scouting Report: Deluca started hitting righthanded only as a pro and found his offensive stride. He takes big, powerful swings and generates above-average raw power with his muscular forearms. He has above-average plate discipline and crushes fastballs at any velocity. Deluca struggles against secondary stuff and is more masher than pure hitter, but he battles through at-bats and projects to be a below-average hitter who gets to his power. He hits lefties particularly hard. Deluca is a plus runner who steals bases and covers wide swaths of ground in the outfield. He runs down balls in all directions and has the athleticism to make highlight-reel plays at all three spots. He is an above-average defender and keeps runners honest with his above-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: Deluca projects to be a valuable role player who crushes lefties and plays strong defense at all three outfield positions. He should fit into the Rays’ outfield rotation in 2024.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #17 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: DeLuca participated in both baseball and track in high school and was one of the top prep long jumpers in the state of California. The Twins drafted him in the 39th round out of high school, but he instead went to Oregon and spent two seasons as the Ducks starting center fielder. The Dodgers drafted him in the 25th round as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2019 and signed him for $300,000--equivalent to sixth-round money. DeLuca's athleticism and tools stood out in his first full season and he jumped offensively in 2022. He set new career highs with 25 home runs and an .888 OPS across High-A and Double-A and was added to the 40-man roster after the season.
  
  Scouting Report: DeLuca struggled as a switch-hitter at Oregon but has flourished offensively after the Dodgers made him hit righthanded only. He crushes lefthanded pitching with a strong, powerful swing and generates above-average power with his bulging, muscular forearms. He catches up to velocity, has above-average plate discipline and battles through at-bats. DeLuca is still getting used to seeing the ball from the right side against righthanded pitchers, but he crushes mistakes when they leave them over the plate. DeLuca is a plus runner and athlete in the outfield who can play all three positions. He has above-average arm strength that yielded seven outfield assists in 2022.
  
  The Future: DeLuca projects to be a platoon or reserve outfielder who bashes lefties and plays all three outfield spots. He'll begin 2023 back at Double-A Tulsa.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #405 prospect in 2019 draft
  A 5-foot-11, 196-pound draft-eligible sophomore, DeLuca was drafted by the Twins in the 39th round of the 2017 draft, but instead made it to campus at Oregon where he has struggled to figure out the offensive side of his game. DeLuca is an above-average runner with above-average arm strength who was one of the best athletes in the 2017 class out of high school, where he also was a competitive long jumper and track runner, but he's hit just .224/.293/.356 over two seasons with the Ducks and he's striking out more in 2019. His offensive performance, combined with well below-average power might make him a tough draft, but if he can figure out his swing he could impact a team with his defense and running ability.
• Ranked #320 prospect in 2017 draft
  DeLuca is a premium athlete who participates in both baseball and track and field in the spring. He recorded one of the top long jumps in the state as a senior with a leap of 23 feet, 8 inches and also ran the 100-meter dash and 4x100 relay. DeLuca uses his athleticism exceptionally well on the diamond, consistently turning in plus run times and covering significant ground in the outfield, earning plus grades as a defender in center field with a plus arm as well. A switch-hitter, DeLuca has a smooth swing from both sides more geared for contact than power. He is righthanded naturally but has worked to become above-average hitting lefthanded as well. DeLuca projects to have below-average power. As one of the best athletes in the draft with above-average hitting potential, DeLuca is in consideration to go in the top five rounds. He is committed to Oregon.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: DeLuca participated in both baseball and track in high school and was one of the top prep long jumpers in the state of California. The Twins drafted him in the 39th round out of high school, but he instead went to Oregon and spent two seasons as the Ducks starting center fielder. The Dodgers drafted him in the 25th round as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2019 and signed him for $300,000--equivalent to sixth-round money. DeLuca's athleticism and tools stood out in his first full season and he jumped offensively in 2022. He set new career highs with 25 home runs and an .888 OPS across High-A and Double-A and was added to the 40-man roster after the season.
  
  Scouting Report: DeLuca struggled as a switch-hitter at Oregon but has flourished offensively after the Dodgers made him hit righthanded only. He crushes lefthanded pitching with a strong, powerful swing and generates above-average power with his bulging, muscular forearms. He catches up to velocity, has above-average plate discipline and battles through at-bats. DeLuca is still getting used to seeing the ball from the right side against righthanded pitchers, but he crushes mistakes when they leave them over the plate. DeLuca is a plus runner and athlete in the outfield who can play all three positions. He has above-average arm strength that yielded seven outfield assists in 2022.
  
  The Future: DeLuca projects to be a platoon or reserve outfielder who bashes lefties and plays all three outfield spots. He'll begin 2023 back at Double-A Tulsa.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: DeLuca participated in both baseball and track in high school and was one of the top prep long jumpers in the state of California. The Twins drafted him in the 39th round out of high school, but he instead went to Oregon and spent two seasons as the Ducks starting center fielder. The Dodgers drafted him in the 25th round as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2019 and signed him for $300,000--equivalent to sixth-round money. DeLuca's athleticism and tools stood out in his first full season and he jumped offensively in 2022. He set new career highs with 25 home runs and an .888 OPS across High-A and Double-A and was added to the 40-man roster after the season.
  
  Scouting Report: DeLuca struggled as a switch-hitter at Oregon but has flourished offensively after the Dodgers made him hit righthanded only. He crushes lefthanded pitching with a strong, powerful swing and generates above-average power with his bulging, muscular forearms. He catches up to velocity, has above-average plate discipline and battles through at-bats. DeLuca is still getting used to seeing the ball from the right side against righthanded pitchers, but he crushes mistakes when they leave them over the plate. DeLuca is a plus runner and athlete in the outfield who can play all three positions. He has above-average arm strength that yielded seven outfield assists in 2022.
  
  The Future: DeLuca projects to be a platoon or reserve outfielder who bashes lefties and plays all three outfield spots. He'll begin 2023 back at Double-A Tulsa.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  A 5-foot-11, 196-pound draft-eligible sophomore, DeLuca was drafted by the Twins in the 39th round of the 2017 draft, but instead made it to campus at Oregon where he has struggled to figure out the offensive side of his game. DeLuca is an above-average runner with above-average arm strength who was one of the best athletes in the 2017 class out of high school, where he also was a competitive long jumper and track runner, but he's hit just .224/.293/.356 over two seasons with the Ducks and he's striking out more in 2019. His offensive performance, combined with well below-average power might make him a tough draft, but if he can figure out his swing he could impact a team with his defense and running ability.