| Austin Hays | |
|---|---|
 Hays with the Cincinnati Reds in 2025 | |
| Chicago White Sox – No. 21 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1995-07-05)July 5, 1995 (age 30) Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 7, 2017, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .262 |
| Home runs | 83 |
| Runs batted in | 312 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Austin Charles Bryan Hays (born July 5, 1995) is an American professionalbaseballoutfielder for theChicago White Sox ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in the MLB for theBaltimore Orioles,Philadelphia Phillies, andCincinnati Reds. He made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Orioles. Hays was anAll-Star in 2023.
Hays was born July 5, 1995, inDaytona Beach, Florida,[1] to parents Terrie and Chuck.[2] As anoutfielder forSpruce Creek High School inPort Orange, Florida, Hays developed his arm strength toassist on defensive plays.[3] In 2012, Haysbatted .402, including .426 withrunners in scoring position, and had 26runs batted in (RBIs) en route to winning a state championship title with Spruce Creek.[4][5]
Hays attendedSeminole State College of Florida, where he playedcollege baseball for the Seminole State Raiders, and transferred toJacksonville University, where he continued his college baseball career with theJacksonville Dolphins.[6] In 2015, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theHyannis Harbor Hawks of theCape Cod Baseball League.[7]
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TheBaltimore Orioles selected Hays in the third round of the2016 Major League Baseball draft.[8][9] Hays signed and made his professional debut with theAberdeen Ironbirds of theLow-ANew York-Penn League where he batted .336 with four home runs and 21 RBI in 38 games. He started the 2017 season with theFrederick Keys of theHigh-ACarolina League.[10][11] On May 26, 2017, he became the first player in Frederick history to hit three home runs in one game.[12][13] He received a promotion to theBowie Baysox of theDouble-AEastern League in June 2017.[14] In 128 games between Frederick and Bowie, he slashed .329/.365/.593 with 32 home runs and 95 RBI.[15]
The Orioles promoted Hays to the major leagues on September 5, 2017, making him the first 2016 draftee to reach the major leagues.[16] He made his major league debut September 7, 2017.[17] He had his first MLB hit, followed by his first MLB home run, in a 9–3 loss against theNew York Yankees on September 16.[18] In 20 games for Baltimore during the 2017 season, he batted .217/.238/.317 in 60 at bats.[19] He began 2018 with Bowie. He did not play in the majors in 2018, struggling with underperformance and injury.
Hays was recalled by the Orioles from theTriple-ANorfolk Tides on September 7, 2019. He was supposed to have reported to theSurprise Saguaros on September 11, the first time ever that theArizona Fall League (AFL) season opened before October. His promotion was made possible by both MLB and theMajor League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) which, two days prior to the transaction, approved a rule change that allowed players on the40-man roster to report to the AFL in October.[20][21] In a 15-inning 11–10 loss to theToronto Blue Jays atRogers Centre on September 23, he became the first MLB rookie to have at least five RBIs, a stolen base and an outfield assist in the same game since the RBI became an official stat in 1920.[22] The Orioles eventually decided not to send him to the Saguaros after he started in 15 of 20 games, batted .313 with a .958OPS and made several spectacular defensive plays. On August 11, 2020, Hays hit a two-run inside-the-park home run against the Philadelphia Phillies to break an 8-8 tie. That would be the game's difference maker as the Orioles won the game in extra innings, 10-9.[23]
In 2020 for the Orioles, Hays slashed .279/.328/.393 with four home runs and nine RBI; in 2021, he appeared in 131 games with Baltimore, batting .256 with 22 home runs and 71 RBI.[24]
On June 22, 2022, Hayshit for the cycle in a game against theWashington Nationals.[25][26] In August, Hays was named the Orioles'Heart & Hustle Award winner for the 2022 season.[27] Playing in 145 games for Baltimore, he batted .250/.306/.413 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI.On January 13, 2023, Hays agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million contract with the Orioles, avoiding salary arbitration.[28] He got five hits in a 9–8 away loss to theBoston Red Sox in the second game of the season on April 1.[29] He had his first four-hit game of the campaign ten nights later in a 12–8 home win over theOakland Athletics on April 11.[30]
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Hays was named to theAll-Star Game in 2023 after a stellar first half that saw him hit .314/.355/.498 with 9 home runs and 36 RBI in 78 games. He was named the starting center fielder for the game, replacingMike Trout, who withdrew due to injury.[31] He added two more four-hit games in a pair of road victories after the All-Star break, the first was 6–1 over theToronto Blue Jays on August 3 followed one month later by 10–3 over theLos Angeles Angels on September 6 in which he also had a season-high four RBI.[32][33]
Hays was sidelined from April 22 to May 13, 2024, because of a strained leftcalf.[34] Hays appeared in 63 games for the Orioles in 2024, hitting .255/.316/.395 with three home runs and 14 RBI.
On July 26, 2024, Hays was traded to thePhiladelphia Phillies in exchange forSeranthony Domínguez andCristian Pache.[35] In 22 games for the Phillies, he slashed .256/.275/.397 with two home runs, six RBI, and two stolen bases. During his time with the Phillies, a kidney infection hampered his ability to play.[36] On November 22, Hays was non–tendered by the Phillies and became a free agent.[37]
On January 30, 2025, Hays signed a one-year, $5 million contract with theCincinnati Reds.[38] In 103 appearances for Cincinnati, he batted .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI, and seven stolen bases. On November 5, the Reds declined Hays' 2026 option, making him a free agent.[39]
On February 4, 2026, Hays signed a one-year, $6 million contract with theChicago White Sox.[40]
Hays and his wife Samantha have two sons together.[41] The couple met when they were in high school together at Spruce Creek.[42]
Hays is aChristian. He became a Christian, along with his wife, in 2020.[43]
| Achievements | ||
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| Preceded by | Hitting for the cycle June 22, 2022 | Succeeded by |