Pirates A to Z: Jason Delay won battle for backup catcher, showed value with his bat

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster.

Player: Jason Delay

Positions: Catcher

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Age: 28

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 190 pounds

2023 MLB statistics: Batted .251/.319/.347 with 11 doubles, one home run and 18 RBIs in 70 games.

Contract: Not eligible for arbitration until 2026.

Acquired: Selected in the fourth round out of Vanderbilt in the 2017 MLB Draft.

This past season: Delay was on the brink of retiring before his mid-season promotion in 2022, so finishing the season with the Pirates proved to Delay that he belonged in the major leagues.

Even after he was designated for assignment in the offseason. Even after the Pirates signed Austin Hedges to be their starting catcher. Even with top prospects Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis rising through the minors and expected to make their debuts during the summer.

Delay arrived at spring training with designs on winning the backup job, beating out veterans Tyler Heineman and Kevin Plawecki because of his edge in receiving and pitch-calling.

“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. “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.”

JASON DELAY OVER THE MONSTER! pic.twitter.com/CuhBjs3kOm

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 4, 2023

JASON DELAY SHOW pic.twitter.com/ZYpAsKX93W

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 27, 2023

Although defense is his calling card, Delay showed he could hit a bit, too. He batted .339 in 21 games and was still slashing .301/.366/.425 through 30 games.

“I definitely feel more confident every day, like when I come to the field I belong here,” Delay said. “I’m able to be a starter. Right now, I’m not getting as many reps, but I’m kind of embracing that role and just trying to help the team whenever I’m out there. It’s certainly not easy. It’s hard to get into a rhythm when you’re playing twice a week, but it is what it is and I’m embracing it.”

Once Delay started scuffling at the plate, batting .161 (5 for 31) from June 10-July 16, including a 17-game stretch where he hit .120 (3 for 25), the Pirates optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis. Delay knew that it was likely Hedges, who was on a one-year contract and wasn’t hitting his weight, would be gone by August. But he also was aware that Rodriguez was tapped to be the starter.

“It was more wishful thinking than anything,” Delay said. “Definitely no promises. It was more hoping something would happen so I could find my way back to the big leagues.”

Returning to the minors was motivation for Delay, who slashed .357/.419/.500 with four doubles and five RBIs in eight games before the Pirates traded Hedges to the Texas Rangers at the deadline.

“It was a little bit of an eye-opening experience for me,” Delay said. “I hadn’t been in the minor leagues in quite some time, so I went back down there — not that I’m taking anything for granted here — I was like, ‘OK, I had it really, really good.’ It kind of gave me that hunger to get back up here and, really, never be back in the minor leagues again.”

Pirates pitchers showed confidence with Delay behind the plate, especially All-Star right-hander Mitch Keller. Delay played a pivotal role in Keller’s eight shutout innings in a 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 25, making a momentous mound visit.

When Keller dropped to the ground after taking a comebacker off his right shin in the eighth, Delay gently reminded him that he was pitching a gem: “I wasn’t about to let him get out of that game,” Delay said.

“I was just kind of just sitting there, and JD came out, and he goes, ‘Get up, let’s go, we’re finishing this,’” Keller said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, you’re right, let’s go.’ I just wanted one pitch to feel it out, and then we were ready to rock.”

That Delay became Keller’s preferred battery mate was telling. But Delay knows he will have another battle to keep the backup job.

Jason Delay-

A few key points we are hitting on in camp- Body angles, tempo, vertical move through the catch- press the ball away from you. pic.twitter.com/36dGwCW5aW

— Jordan Comadena (@Funky2414) February 21, 2023

The future: The Pirates signaled their plans by telling Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, to spend the offseason focusing on his play behind the plate and to come to spring training with the pitchers and catchers.

But when Pirates general manager Ben Cherington talked about his catching depth last week in an appearance on MLB Network’s Hot Stove, he mentioned Delay with Davis and Rodriguez.

Delay’s defense should keep him in consideration for the backup job, given that Davis can also play right field or designated hitter. Delay accounted for two defensive runs saved in 484 innings behind the plate last season and his rapport with the pitching staff is a plus.