David Dellucci
Encyclopedia
David Michael Dellucci is a retired Major League Baseball
outfielder
.
in Baton Rouge in 1991. He earned the team's Most Valuable Player honors in both baseball and football
, and All-State honors for baseball. During the winter of 2001, he was inducted into the Catholic HS Hall of Fame.
, where he was an All-Southeastern Conference
selection in both 1994 and 1995 and earned All-American status in 1995, setting 10 school records while leading the SEC in hitting. He was named Athlete of the Year at Ole Miss in 1995.
in the 1995 First-Year Player Draft. In 1997, Dellucci hit his first major league home run
on June 25 in a road game against the Brewers
. Selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks
in the 1998 MLB Expansion Draft, he played for Arizona from 1998 to 2003, including playing on the World Series
-winning squad in 2001. During the 2003 season, Dellucci was traded to the New York Yankees
, along with pitcher Bret Prinz and catcher John Sprowl, in exchange for outfielder Raúl Mondesí
. He finished the 2003 season with New York, and in 2004, signed with the Texas Rangers
as a free agent. In 2005, with Texas, he had 29 homers and 65 RBI. In , Dellucci was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
for pitcher Robinson Tejeda
and Minor League outfielder Jake Blalock
.
Dellucci signed with the Cleveland Indians
on December 6, 2006. On June 19, 2007, Dellucci severely tore his left hamstring tendon off the bone just under his left knee. He missed time early in Spring Training 2009 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. While hitting .275 in 40 at bats, he was designated for assignment by the Indians on May 29, 2009, and after clearing waivers was released on June 1.
On June 10, 2009, Dellucci agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the Blue Jays. On July 3, the Blue Jays purchased Dellucci's contract from the Las Vegas 51's of the AAA Pacific Coast League. After a brief stint with the major league club in Toronto, he was designated for assignment on July 24, 2009. He was released on July 31, 2009 by the Las Vegas 51s
, the Triple-A affiliate of the Blue Jays.
, Dellucci, a Louisiana native, started the Catch 22 for Blue Foundation to raise money to help the victims of the hurricane. He was rewarded with a Commendation from the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives. He heads Dellucci's Dream Foundation which puts on an annual free baseball clinic in Baton Rouge for boys and girls and educates young children with life skills. Dellucci is also an avid hunter.
Dellucci dated Playboy centerfold Gena Lee Nolin
during the Arizona Diamondbacks
World Series run in 2001. He is married to Rachel Reynolds
, a model
on The Price is Right
. Reynolds was previously married to former NFL Quarterback and Major League baseball player Josh Booty
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
.
High School
Dellucci graduated from Catholic HighCatholic High School (Baton Rouge)
Catholic High School is an all-male Catholic college-preparatory school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. It offers grades eight through twelve.-Awards and recognition:...
in Baton Rouge in 1991. He earned the team's Most Valuable Player honors in both baseball and football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, and All-State honors for baseball. During the winter of 2001, he was inducted into the Catholic HS Hall of Fame.
College
He played four seasons at the University of MississippiUniversity of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, where he was an All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
selection in both 1994 and 1995 and earned All-American status in 1995, setting 10 school records while leading the SEC in hitting. He was named Athlete of the Year at Ole Miss in 1995.
Career
Dellucci was drafted in the 10th round by the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in the 1995 First-Year Player Draft. In 1997, Dellucci hit his first major league home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
on June 25 in a road game against the Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
in the 1998 MLB Expansion Draft, he played for Arizona from 1998 to 2003, including playing on the World Series
2001 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 27, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, ArizonaArizona showed no fear and chased Yankees starter Mike Mussina after just three innings. The Yankees gave up five unearned runs and the Diamondbacks rode Curt Schilling's seven strong innings to a 9–1 rout...
-winning squad in 2001. During the 2003 season, Dellucci was traded to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, along with pitcher Bret Prinz and catcher John Sprowl, in exchange for outfielder Raúl Mondesí
Raúl Mondesí
Raúl Ramón Mondesí Avelino is a former Major League Baseball player and the current mayor of San Cristóbal Province in the Dominican Republic. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1994 as a right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers...
. He finished the 2003 season with New York, and in 2004, signed with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
as a free agent. In 2005, with Texas, he had 29 homers and 65 RBI. In , Dellucci was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for pitcher Robinson Tejeda
Robinson Tejeda
Robinson Garcia Tejeda is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Philadelphia Phillies:...
and Minor League outfielder Jake Blalock
Jake Blalock
Jake Willie Blalock is a professional baseball outfielder for Palfinger Reggio Emilia of Italy's Serie A1. Blalock is 6'4" and 205 lbs...
.
Dellucci signed with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
on December 6, 2006. On June 19, 2007, Dellucci severely tore his left hamstring tendon off the bone just under his left knee. He missed time early in Spring Training 2009 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. While hitting .275 in 40 at bats, he was designated for assignment by the Indians on May 29, 2009, and after clearing waivers was released on June 1.
On June 10, 2009, Dellucci agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the Blue Jays. On July 3, the Blue Jays purchased Dellucci's contract from the Las Vegas 51's of the AAA Pacific Coast League. After a brief stint with the major league club in Toronto, he was designated for assignment on July 24, 2009. He was released on July 31, 2009 by the Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
, the Triple-A affiliate of the Blue Jays.
Personal
After Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, Dellucci, a Louisiana native, started the Catch 22 for Blue Foundation to raise money to help the victims of the hurricane. He was rewarded with a Commendation from the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives. He heads Dellucci's Dream Foundation which puts on an annual free baseball clinic in Baton Rouge for boys and girls and educates young children with life skills. Dellucci is also an avid hunter.
Dellucci dated Playboy centerfold Gena Lee Nolin
Gena Lee Nolin
Gena Lee Nolin is an American actress and model. She is best known for her television appearances on The Price Is Right and Baywatch in the 1990s.-Career:...
during the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
World Series run in 2001. He is married to Rachel Reynolds
Rachel Reynolds
Rachel Reynolds is an American model and actress who is currently one of the models on the game show The Price Is Right....
, a model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
on The Price is Right
The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right is a television game show franchise originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and created by Bob Stewart, and is currently produced and owned by FremantleMedia. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also includes merchandise such as video games, printed...
. Reynolds was previously married to former NFL Quarterback and Major League baseball player Josh Booty
Josh Booty
Joshua Gibson Booty is a National Football League quarterback and former Major League Baseball third baseman. He is currently a free agent after being waived by the Oakland Raiders...
.