Jonny DeLuca, a rookie outfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers, had to leave Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays due to what seemed to be a right hamstring injury.
Although the Dodgers won the game 8-7, it was unsettling for LA fans to see their young rookie being ejected from the field.
After sprinting to first base and appearing to pull up awkwardly, DeLuca immediately grabbed his right hamstring.
Jonny DeLuca’s career path
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Jonny DeLuca in the 2019 MLB Draft, and he later played in the minor levels for several seasons before being finally called up to the major leagues.
DeLuca was given the chance of a lifetime due to a lack of right-handed batters and some standout performances in the minor leagues.
Jonny DeLuca was beginning to adjust to life in the major league. He was full of confidence after hitting his first major league home run at the beginning of the month.
His achievements
The MLB selected Oregon’s Jonny DeLuca in the 25th round of the 2019 Draft. He participated in the Arizona Complex League briefly before receiving a full season in 2021.
He began the season by playing 101 games with the Great Lakes Loons, averaging 264. He was promoted to Double-A for 2022 and once more played for the Tulsa Drillers, averaging over 260.
Los Angeles added DeLuca to the 40-man roster in November of last year to shield him from the Rule 5 Draft, limiting the number of young players that can be added to a team’s minor league system.
Before being finally called up to the Los Angeles club once more, he began this season with the Oklahoma City Dodgers.
The 24-year-old has displayed amazing strength and quickness. DeLuca hit 61 home homers and attempted 54 base steals during the past two and a half-seasons.
It was, therefore, even more upsetting to watch him hurt, given the significance of the circumstances in his fledgling career.
Only four days prior, the outfielder stunned every MLB fan with back-to-back catches against the Texas Rangers to display his superior fielding skills.
What happened to DeLuca?
DeLuca has had a right hamstring strain that has kept him out of action since July 26. He has not yet started a rehab assignment, but on Monday, he did participate in a practice game.
The Dodgers will hope that his injury is not as serious as it appeared to be, even if there have been no updates on its severity.
Conclusion
While there is no denying that the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup needed a right-handed bat, many feel that DeLuca has demonstrated enough to merit a spot on the squad.
But now that Kike Hernandez had been brought in, it was always feasible that DeLuca would be demoted.
Additionally, it is disheartening to witness a young player lose out on an opportunity to play in the MLB due to an injury.
