The Rays’ 4-3 win over the A’s on Wednesday night had already put Kevin Cash in front of the Tropicana Field clubhouse, discussing Tampa Bay’s late-inning relief work. Then Jonny DeLuca, shirtless and backed by a loud cluster of teammates, arrived to interrupt the manager’s media session for a very specific assignment.
Jonny DeLuca’s Winning Spin Sends Him to Kevin Cash for a Hug
DeLuca had spun Tampa Bay’s postgame celebration wheel and landed on a newer instruction: hug Cash. With veteran starter Nick Martinez supplying the push, the outfielder stepped into the scrum and wrapped up an amused, if initially puzzled, manager.
“It went great,” DeLuca said. “I’d tried to hug him before, and that’s the first time he actually brought me in. It went good.”
Quick facts
- The American League-leading Rays beat the A’s, 4-3, on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.
- Cash had been praising Tampa Bay’s high-leverage relievers before DeLuca’s interruption.
- The previous game’s player of the game chooses the next recipient of one celebration-wheel spin.
- Each night’s pitcher of the game also receives a spin.
- DeLuca became the first player to land on the “Give Cash a hug” outcome.
The wheel has become part of the club’s routine after victories, handing out assignments to the designated player of the game and the night’s top pitcher. Its full list of outcomes remains inside the clubhouse.
“We can’t tell you,” Martinez said with a smile when asked what else might be on it. “You guys are lucky you got to see that one.”
Martinez said the Cash-hug space had been added recently. He also suggested DeLuca may have been wearing more than the wheel’s makers had envisioned for the moment, but the execution still counted.
“First one to give Cashy a hug, so it worked out perfect,” Martinez said.
DeLuca admitted there was some apprehension. Cash, he noted, is not known around the room as a frequent hugger, and barging into a live interview made the assignment feel even less routine.
“Even if it was alone, I would have kind of been a little scared,” DeLuca said. “But mid-interview, I didn’t think I was supposed to be there, and Nick kind of just dragged me in there.”
Cash took the ambush in stride after another one-run win. Asked about the celebration requirement, the manager gave the clubhouse the green light.
“Whatever they need,” Cash said.
SEO Title: Jonny DeLuca’s Celebration Wheel Spin Earns Kevin Cash Hug
SEO Description: After the Rays’ 4-3 win over the A’s, Jonny DeLuca became the first Tampa Bay player sent by the club’s celebration wheel to hug manager Kevin Cash.
