Backup catcher Jason Delay proves that production at plate plays for Pirates

Amid the clamoring for the Pittsburgh Pirates to promote top prospects Endy Rodriguez or Henry Davis, backup catcher Jason Delay has quietly proven to be more productive than anticipated.

Where starting catcher Austin Hedges is hitting .143, Delay has a team-best .339 batting average (19 for 56) in 21 games this season. That has prompted queries of whether he should be splitting playing time, something general manager Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton have sidestepped.

The Pirates signed Hedges to a one-year, $5 million contract this offseason primarily because he is considered an elite defender who they believed could make a strong impact on a young pitching staff, while Delay won a three-way battle for the backup job with a solid spring.

“We signed (Hedges) knowing that, knowing what the whole package was and believing he could come in and help our team,” Cherington said. “We think he has, in some ways that you can see and some ways that are harder to see off the field. Austin’s a huge part of the team, and we expect that to continue.

“It’s up to Shelty how he picks the matchups of when to use both guys, but it’s been great that JD has stepped up and has been such a contributor offensively. And, of course, we trust him defensively, as well. So it’s been a good combination for us, I think. We feel really good no matter who’s in the lineup.”

Delay, 28, has come far since his major league debut June 14 at St. Louis. In 57 games last season, Delay batted .213 with six doubles, a home run and 11 RBIs. Despite being designated for assignment, Delay spent the offseason building confidence while working on his plate approach. A nonroster invitee to spring training, he beat out Tyler Heineman and Kevin Plawecki for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

“Maybe that’s one of the reasons why I’ve had success is because I don’t really worry about that stuff,” Delay said. “I always worry about the process and just getting better every day. … I credit a lot of my success to my mental approach and having that confidence every time I step up to the plate.”

Delay’s fast start should be viewed as one of the most positive storylines for the Pirates this season, but his feel-good tale has been overshadowed by Andrew McCutchen’s return and Drew Maggi’s major league debut and first hit after toiling in the minors for 13 seasons.

Either way, Delay is a success story the Pirates could use as an example for their major league hopefuls. A 2017 fourth-round pick out of Vanderbilt, Delay had been demoted to bullpen catcher at Triple-A Indianapolis, hadn’t played in 16 days and was contemplating retirement when he was promoted to the Pirates last year.

“I don’t think that’s something that really even needs to be communicated,” Delay said. “Everyone knows that everyone has a realistic chance to make the big leagues. No one’s here for (show). The more examples of guys like myself and Maggi kind of reinforces the idea that everyone has a chance. All it takes is playing well.”

Asked about Delay, Pirates farm director John Baker cited a favorite phrase from Indianapolis manager Miguel Perez: “In baseball, you just never know. If you’ve got a uniform on, you’ve got a shot.”

As much as Maggi has become the ultimate “never give up” story, Baker believes Delay’s journey from Triple-A bullpen catcher to major league backup catcher can be a lesson to all prospects that the Pirates are making “merit-based” roster decisions at the upper levels.

“The guys who are coming up with us now are the guys who are playing the best in the minor leagues, who showed us something in spring training, who can help the ballclub,” Baker said. “That’s a fun place to be because everybody who shows up to the field in Altoona and Indianapolis, they’re thinking that, when the phone rings, it could be them (who’s called up next). That’s the environment we want to create.”

Rodriguez last year and Davis this season could make arguments their play has merited a promotion, but neither is polished defensively. Cherington said he wants both to get the opportunity to be an everyday player at the position in the minors, which is why they sent Rodriguez to Indianapolis and Davis to Double-A Altoona.

If anything, Delay is proof that, no matter the path a player takes to the majors, the best way to stay is by being productive for the Pirates.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned through it all, it’s that you’re never as bad as you think and you’re never as good as you think,” Delay said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever shared this, but, towards the end of last year, I got tired of the story, ‘Oh, it’s such a crazy story that he’s up here.’ In my mind, I’m like, ‘No, I belong here. It’s not a fluke.’ For my mentality, I have to think that. I guess, if I can be an inspiration, that’s awesome. But I’m just trying to compete here every day.”