| David Dellucci | |
|---|---|
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1973-10-31)October 31, 1973 (age 52) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 3, 1997, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 22, 2009, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .256 |
| Home runs | 101 |
| Runs batted in | 398 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
David Michael Dellucci (born October 31, 1973) is an American former professionalbaseballoutfielder, who played 13 seasons inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for seven teams.[1]
Dellucci graduated fromCatholic High School inBaton Rouge, Louisiana in 1991. He earned the team's Most Valuable Player honors in bothbaseball andfootball, and All-State honors for baseball. He was also awarded the Catholic High Man of the Year award as a senior in 1991. During the winter of 2001, he was inducted into the Catholic High School Hall of Fame as a Grizzly Great.[2]
Dellucci played four seasons at theUniversity of Mississippi (Ole Miss), where he was an All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection in both 1994 and 1995 and earned All-American status in 1995, setting 10 school records and winning the SEC batting title in hitting. He was named Athlete of the Year at Ole Miss in 1995.[2] Dellucci was elected into the Ole Miss "M Club" Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 and was named as one of the 50 Greatest Athletes in Ole Miss history.[3] He was selected by theMinnesota Twins in the 11th round (295th overall) of the1994 Major League Baseball draft, but chose to remain at Ole Miss.[4]
In spite of playing well and racking up solid statistics as a college player, Dellucci was viewed by MLB Central Scouting as a utility outfielder when compared to the thick talent pool of other players in the1995 Major League Baseball draft. As a result, he did not rate as a high pick, and he was eventually selected by theBaltimore Orioles in the 10th round (276th overall).[5]
Dellucci made his major league debut with Baltimore on June 3,1997, going 0-for-4 with a walk in a 7–5 win over theNew York Yankees.[6] On June 11, he recorded his first major league hit, anRBI single offBoston Red Sox pitcherTom Gordon, which hit off of theGreen Monster inFenway Park.[7] Dellucci hit his first major leaguehome run on June 25 in a road game againstCal Eldred of theMilwaukee Brewers.[8] In 17 games with the Orioles, he batted .222 with a home run and 3 RBI.[1]
While playing in theArizona Fall League during the offseason, Dellucci was selected by theArizona Diamondbacks in the1997-98 Major League Baseball expansion draft.[9] He played for Arizona from the team's inaugural season in 1998 to 2003, and was a member of theWorld Series-winning squad in 2001.[1]
As a rookie in1998, Dellucci finished the season batting .260 with five home runs and 51 RBI in 124 games. He also led theNational League intriples (12).[1]
Dellucci got off to a hot start in1999, posting a batting average of .394 with 27runs, sevendoubles, a triple, a home run and 15 RBI in 63 games.[1] However, his season was cut short in late July when he was diagnosed with a degenerative bone disease in his left wrist, known asKienböck's disease. He underwent reconstructive surgery on his left wrist on July 28.[10] In honor of Dellucci, each Diamondback player and coach displayed his number on the side of their caps. Initially, the injury was thought to be potentially career-ending, but after the successful surgery and extensive rehabilitation, he returned to the team during spring training the next year.[11][12] Dellucci hit .300 (15-for-50) with 2 RBI in 34 games with Arizona in2000.[1]
In 115 games during the2001 season, Dellucci hit .276 with 10 home runs and 40 RBI in just 217 at bats.[1] Six of the home runs came as a utility player and pinch hitter.[13] In the 2001 postseason, Dellucci appeared in six games, mainly as a pinch hitter, and recorded two hits in fourat bats while scoring one run.[14] The Diamondbacks went on to defeat the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the2001 World Series, giving Dellucci his first World Series ring.[15]
On July 29,2003, Dellucci was traded to theNew York Yankees along with pitcherBret Prinz and catcher John Sprowl, in exchange for outfielderRaúl Mondesí.[16] He finished the 2003 season as a member of the American League champion Yankees and appeared in the2003 World Series against theFlorida Marlins. Dellucci recorded one hit in five at bats, while scoring three runs in eight playoff games.[14] The Yankees lost the series to the Marlins in six games.[17] On December 19, Dellucci was non-tendered by the Yankees, making him a free agent.[18]
In December 2003, Dellucci signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with theTexas Rangers.[19] For the2004 season, Dellucci, in 331 at bats, hit .242 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI in 107 games.[1] On September 23, with the Rangers looking to stay alive in the playoff race, Dellucci hit a walk-off two-run double to beat theOakland Athletics 5–4 and keep the Rangers' playoff hopes alive.[20] The Rangers went on to miss the postseason, but Dellucci's double has been described as one of the most memorable plays in Rangers franchise history.[21] After the season, Dellucci agreed to a two-year, $1.8 million contract to remain with the Rangers on December 20.[22]
In2005, Dellucci had one of his best years as a professional. He hit .251 in 128 games, and recorded a season high in total at bats (435), home runs (29) and RBI (65).[1] He is tied for second in Rangers history with four leadoff home runs.
On April 1,2006, Dellucci was traded to thePhiladelphia Phillies for pitcherRobinson Tejeda and minor league outfielderJake Blalock.[23] Until the trade ofBobby Abreu, Dellucci was used mostly as a pinch hitter/reserve outfielder, but still hit .292 with 13 home runs and 39 RBI in 264 at bats.[1]
Dellucci signed a three-year, $11.5 million contract with theCleveland Indians on December 6, 2006.[24] On June 19,2007, while running to first base, Dellucci tore his left hamstring tendon while running to first base, which required surgery and a trip to thedisabled list. He was activated on September 6.[25] Dellucci played in 56 games in his first season with Cleveland, batting .230 with four home runs and 20 RBI.[1] In2008, he appeared in 113 games and hit .238 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI.[1]
Dellucci missed time early in Spring Training2009 due to a surgically repaired thumb after smashing it in the tailgate of his trailer. He started the 2009 season on the disabled list with a strained left calf.[26] While hitting .275 with an RBI in 40 at bats,[1] he was designated for assignment by the Indians on May 29,[27] and after clearing waivers, was released on June 1.[28]
On June 10, 2009, Dellucci agreed to terms on a minor league contract with theToronto Blue Jays.[29] He was assigned to theLas Vegas 51's of thePacific Coast League, where he hit .317 with three home runs and 9 RBI in 16 games.[30] This led to the Blue Jays purchasing Dellucci's contract, on July 3.[30] After a brief stint with the big league club in Toronto, he was designated for assignment on July 24, 2009 after recording one hit in 25 at bats (.040) as a Blue Jay.[1][31] Electing not to accept his designation, he was released on July 31.[1] Dellucci did not return to playing, and chose to retire.
Dellucci currently works as acolor analyst forSEC Network andESPN.[32] He is also on theNational Wildlife Federation's Vanishing Paradise advisory board.
In 2011, Dellucci was inducted into the Louisiana American Italian Hall of Fame.[33]
In 2022, Dellucci was inducted into theMississippi Sports Hall of Fame.[11]
Dellucci has worked with several charities, such as Easter Seals,Special Olympics, Children with AIDS Foundation, and theMake-A-Wish Foundation. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Miracle League of Baton Rouge.
In 2005, after hurricanesKatrina andRita, Dellucci formed his own charity called Catch 22 for Blue, in which he raised and personally distributed money for individuals, groups and schools which were affected by the tragedy along from Southeast Texas toGulfport, Mississippi.[34] He received a Commendation from theLouisiana House of Representatives and was recognized by the state Senate for his efforts. The foundation's name was later changed to the Dream Foundation in 2008, with new goals of supporting military families, sports and education camps for developing youth, and the restoration of parks and playgrounds throughout Cleveland and the state of Louisiana.[35]
Dellucci is married toThe Price Is Right model Rachel Reynolds and has appeared on four episodes ofThe Price Is Right with her; the first was for an engagement episode in 2010 in which he modeled a tuxedo,[36] the second announcing the couple's first pregnancy on September 24, 2012,[37] and the third in February 2018 forValentine's Day. The couple welcomed their first child, Ruby Rey, on February 13, 2013, right on their third wedding anniversary.[38][39] On June 6, 2023, the family appeared onThe Price Is Right, commemorating Rachel's 20th anniversary on the popular game show.[40][41][42]
