Introduction
Jason Thomas Delay (born March 7, 1995) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.
Amateur career
Delay attended Northview High School in Johns Creek, Georgia, and Vanderbilt University, where he played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He was a member of the 2014 College World Series champions, and played in the 2015 College World Series, which Vanderbilt lost. In 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and returned to the league in 2016 with the Cotuit Kettleers.
Professional career
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Delay in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB draft. He signed with the Pirates for a $100,000 signing bonus.
Delay began the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Indians.
In June 2022, Delay had decided he would retire from professional baseball during Indianapolis's upcoming trip to play the Gwinnett Stripers, near his hometown in Johns Creek, Georgia.
The Pirates promoted him to the major leagues on June 13, 2022. He made his major league debut on June 14 in the first game of a double header against the St. Louis Cardinals. After going 0-for-2 with a walk in his debut, the Pirates optioned him back to Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. On July 4, Delay recorded his first career hit, an RBI double off of Cincinnati Reds starter Mike Minor. On July 22, Delay hit his first career home run, a solo shot off of Miami Marlins starter Braxton Garrett. Delay made 57 appearances for the Pirates in his rookie campaign, hitting .213/.265/.271 with one home run and 11 RBI. He was outrighted off the roster on November 10.
On March 28, 2023, the Pirates announced that Delay had made the Opening Day roster as the backup catcher behind Austin Hedges. He had his contract selected on March 30.