Austin Hays

American baseball player (born 1995)

For the English-born football (soccer) player, see Austin Hayes.

Baseball player

Austin Hays

Hays with the Baltimore Orioles in 2017

Cincinnati Reds – No. 12
Outfielder
Born: (1995-07-05) July 5, 1995 (age 30)
Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

MLB debut
September 7, 2017, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
(through August 6, 2025)
Batting average| .262
Home runs| 78
Runs batted in| 292
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams

* Baltimore Orioles (2017, 2019–2024)
* Philadelphia Phillies (2024)
* Cincinnati Reds (2025–present)

Career highlights and awards

* All-Star (2023)

Austin Charles Bryan Hays (born July 5, 1995) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies. He made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Orioles.

## Amateur career

[edit]

Hays was born July 5, 1995, in Daytona Beach, Florida,[1] to parents Terrie and Chuck.[2] As an outfielder for Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Florida, Hays developed his arm strength to assist on defensive plays.[3] In 2012, Hays batted .402, including .426 with runners in scoring position, and had 26 runs batted in (RBIs) en route to winning a state championship title with Spruce Creek.[4][5]

Hays attended Seminole State College of Florida, where he played college baseball for the Seminole State Raiders, and transferred to Jacksonville University, where he continued his college baseball career with the Jacksonville Dolphins.[6] In 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[7]

## Professional career

[edit]

### Baltimore Orioles

[edit]

The Baltimore Orioles selected Hays in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[8][9] Hays signed and made his professional debut with the Aberdeen Ironbirds of the Low-A New York-Penn League where he batted .336 with four home runs and 21 RBI in 38 games. He started the 2017 season with the Frederick Keys of the High-A Carolina League.[10][11] On May 26, 2017, he became the first player in Frederick history to hit three home runs in one game.[12][13] He received a promotion to the Bowie Baysox of the Double-A Eastern League in June 2017.[14] In 128 games between Frederick and Bowie, he slashed .329/.365/.593 with 32 home runs and 95 RBI.[15]

The Orioles promoted Hays to the major leagues on September 5, 2017, making him the first 2016 draftee to reach the major leagues.[16] He made his major league debut September 7, 2017.[17] He had his first MLB hit, followed by his first MLB home run, in a 9–3 loss against the New York Yankees on September 16.[18] In 20 games for Baltimore during the 2017 season, he batted .217/.238/.317 in 60 at bats.[19] He began 2018 with Bowie. He did not play in the majors in 2018, struggling with underperformance and injury.

Hays was recalled by the Orioles from the Triple-A Norfolk Tides on September 7, 2019. He was supposed to have reported to the Surprise Saguaros on September 11, the first time ever that the Arizona Fall League (AFL) season opened before October. His promotion was made possible by both MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) which, two days prior to the transaction, approved a rule change that allowed players on the 40-man roster to report to the AFL in October.[20][21] In a 15-inning 11-10 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 23, he became the first MLB rookie to have at least five RBIs, a stolen base and an outfield assist in the same game since the RBI became an official stat in 1920.[22] The Orioles eventually decided not to send him to the Saguaros after he started in 15 of 20 games, batted .313 with a .958 OPS and made several spectacular defensive plays. On August 11, 2020, Hays hit a two-run inside-the-park home run against the Philadelphia Phillies to break an 8-8 tie. That would be the game's difference maker as the Orioles won the game in extra innings, 10-9.[23]

Hays batting in August 2020 against the Washington Nationals

In 2020 for the Orioles, Hays slashed .279/.328/.393 with four home runs and nine RBI; in 2021, he appeared in 131 games with Baltimore, batting .256 with 22 home runs and 71 RBI.[24]

On June 22, 2022, Hays hit for the cycle in a game against the Washington Nationals.[25][26] In August, Hays was named the Orioles' Heart & Hustle Award winner for the 2022 season.[27] Playing in 145 games for Baltimore, he batted .250/.306/.413 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI. On January 13, 2023, Hays agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million contract with the Orioles, avoiding salary arbitration.[28] He got five hits in a 9-8 away loss to the Boston Red Sox in the second game of the season on April 1.[29] He had his first four-hit game of the campaign ten nights later in a 12-8 home win over the Oakland Athletics on April 11.[30] Hays was named to the All-Star Game in 2023 after a stellar first half that saw him hit .314/.355/.498 with 9 home runs and 36 RBI in 78 games. He was named the starting center fielder for the game, replacing Mike Trout, who withdrew due to injury.[31] He added two more four-hit games in a pair of road victories after the All-Star break, the first was 6-1 over the Toronto Blue Jays on August 3 followed one month later by 10-3 over the Los Angeles Angels on September 6 in which he also had a season-high four RBI.[32][33]

Hays was sidelined from April 22 to May 13, 2024, because of a strained left calf.[34] Hays appeared in 63 games for the Orioles in 2024, hitting .255/.316/.395 with three home runs and 14 RBI.

### Philadelphia Phillies

[edit]

On July 26, 2024, Hays was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Seranthony Domínguez and Cristian Pache.[35] In 22 games for the Phillies, he slashed .256/.275/.397 with two home runs, six RBI, and two stolen bases. During his time with the Phillies, a kidney infection hampered his ability to play.[36] On November 22, Hays was non–tendered by the Phillies and became a free agent.[37]

### Cincinnati Reds

[edit]

On January 30, 2025, Hays signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds.[38]

## Personal life

[edit]

Hays and his wife Samantha have two sons together.[39] The couple met when they were in high school together at Spruce Creek.[40]

Hays is a Christian. He became a Christian, along with his wife, in 2020.[41]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Austin Hays Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
2. ^ Trezza, Joe (May 8, 2020). "Mom's influence on Hays: Run fast, ditch gloves". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
3. ^ Kostka, Andy (June 10, 2022). "For Orioles' Austin Hays, the art of perfecting the outfield assist comes down to preparation". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
4. ^ Boyle, Chris (July 25, 2020). "The News-Journal's All-Decade Baseball Team". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
5. ^ Brousseau, Dave (May 20, 2012). "State baseball: Spruce Creek cruises to first state title in school history". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
6. ^ Buchalter, Bill. "College Connections: Volusia outfielder injects power into Jacksonville's offense". Retrieved September 6, 2017.
7. ^ "#29 Austin Hays - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
8. ^ Ghiroli, Brittany. "Orioles pick Austin Hays in Round 3 of Draft". M.cubs.mlb.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
9. ^ "JU's Austin Hays picked by Orioles in third round of draft". Jacksonville.com. June 10, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
10. ^ "Orioles 2016 draft picks Sedlock, Akin and Hays expected to be fast-tracked to Frederick". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
11. ^ Steve Melewski (March 30, 2017). "A look at minor league outfielder Austin Hays, plus other notes - Steve Melewski". Masnsports.com. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
12. ^ "Hays homers three times as Keys' leadoff man". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
13. ^ "Hays homers thrice, but Keys swept in twinbill | Professional: All Sports". fredericknewspost.com. May 25, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
14. ^ Steve Melewski (July 6, 2017). "Bowie skipper talks Austin Hays, plus other notes - Steve Melewski". Masnsports.com. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
15. ^ "Austin Hays Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
16. ^ "Orioles' Hays, first 2016 draftee to reach majors, 'couldn't have imagined being in a better spot'". Baltimore Sun. September 1, 2017. Archived from the original on November 20, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
17. ^ Troxell, Jacob (September 9, 2017). "Tim Beckham Homers, But Orioles Lose Third Straight Game". pressboxonline.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
18. ^ Encina, Eduardo A. (September 16, 2017). "Orioles' record misery against Yankees continues with 9-3 road loss". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
19. ^ "Austin Hays Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History".
20. ^ Kubatko, Roch. "Orioles recall Austin Hays," Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Saturday, September 7, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2019
21. ^ Kubatko, Roch. "More on Hays and other roster decisions (O’s down 9-4)," Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Saturday, September 7, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2019
22. ^ Trezza, Joe. "Hays goes airborne, hits 2 jacks in career effort," MLB.com, Tuesday, September 24, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2019
23. ^ Trezza, Joe. "Change of plans: Hays will not play in AFL," MLB.com, Sunday, September 29, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019
24. ^ "Austin Hays Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
25. ^ "Hays hits for MLB's 3rd cycle this month". MLB.com. June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
26. ^ "Outfielder Austin Hays becomes sixth player in Baltimore Orioles history to hit for cycle". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
27. ^ "Orioles OF Austin Hays: Turnaround 'Super Fun,' But 'Ultimate Goal' Still In Mind". pressboxonline.com. August 12, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
28. ^ "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
29. ^ "Duvall hits 2nd 2-run homer for 9-8 walk-off win over O's," The Associated Press (AP), Saturday, April 1, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
30. ^ Trister, Noah. "Mountcastle drives in 9 as Orioles outslug Oakland 12-8," The Associated Press (AP), Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
31. ^ Adler, David (July 7, 2023). "Adolis, Hays join Arozarena as starting outfielders for AL". MLB.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
32. ^ "Flaherty pitches 6 innings to win Baltimore debut as AL-leading Orioles beat Blue Jays 6-1," The Associated Press (AP), Thursday, August 3, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
33. ^ Padilla, Doug. "Orioles beat Angels 10-3 to sweep series, extend winning streak to 5," The Associated Press (AP), Thursday, September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
34. ^ Harrison, Ian. "Hays and Rodriguez help the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 7-2 for 9th win in 11 games," The Associated Press (AP), Monday, June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
35. ^ "Phillies acquire OF Austin Hays from O's for Domínguez, Pache". mlb.com. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
36. ^ "Phillies OF Austin Hays goes on IL with kidney infection". espn.com. September 5, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
37. ^ "Phillies To Non-Tender Austin Hays". mlbtraderumors.com. November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
38. ^ https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/reds-sign-former-all-star-outfielder-to-one-year-deal/IKDMUWZD5VAZPODLPYAXJNINTA/
39. ^ "Trey Mancini doesn't think new deal changes his situation; Adley Rutschman officially ruled out for opener | NOTES". April 4, 2022.
40. ^ Meoli, Jon (May 8, 2021). "Orioles outfielder Austin Hays and wife, Samantha, cherishing first Mother's Day with 'miracle baby' Levi". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
41. ^ Claybourn, Cole. "Cincinnati newcomer Austin Hays sparking Reds offense, knows he's 'alive in Christ'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved May 8, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet

Achievements

Preceded by

Jared Walsh

|  Hitting for the cycle
June 22, 2022  | Succeeded by

Nolan Arenado

* v
* t
* e

Cincinnati Reds current roster

Active roster|

* 2 Gavin Lux
* 3 Ke'Bryan Hayes
* 4 Santiago Espinal
* 7 Spencer Steer
* 9 Matt McLain
* 12 Austin Hays
* 15 Emilio Pagán
* 16 Noelvi Marte
* 21 Hunter Greene
* 23 Graham Ashcraft
* 27 Jake Fraley
* 28 Nick Martinez
* 29 TJ Friedl
* 31 Brent Suter
* 35 Jose Trevino
* 37 Tyler Stephenson
* 38 Miguel Andújar
* 41 Andrew Abbott
* 44 Elly De La Cruz
* 50 Sam Moll
* 51 Brady Singer
* 52 Zack Littell
* 58 Scott Barlow
* 62 Luis Mey
* 64 Tony Santillan
* 66 Joe La Sorsa

Inactive roster|

* 17 Connor Joe
* 30 Will Benson
* 33 Christian Encarnacion-Strand
* 34 Connor Phillips
* 46 Ryan Vilade
* 57 Rece Hinds
* 59 Blake Dunn
* 61 Chase Petty
* 63 Sam Benschoter
* 67 Yosver Zulueta
* 72 Lyon Richardson

Injured list|

* 26 Chase Burns
* 40 Nick Lodolo
* 79 Ian Gibaut

60-day Injured list|

* 22 Wade Miley
* 25 Rhett Lowder
* 32 Tyler Callihan
* 39 Julian Aguiar
* 65 Brandon Williamson
* 68 Carson Spiers

Coaching staff|

* Manager 77 Terry Francona
* Assistant coach 92 Kyle Arnsberg
* Bench/Field Coordinator 45 Freddie Benavides
* First base 54 Collin Cowgill
* Bullpen catcher 91 José Duarte
* Third base/catching 56 J. R. House
* Pitching 36 Derek Johnson
* Bullpen catcher 95 James Keller
* Assistant pitching 96 Simon Mathews
* Bench 73 Brad Mills
* Major League assistant 75 Mike Napoli
* Assistant hitting 93 Alex Pelaez
* Assistant hitting 94 Will Remillard
* Bullpen 90 Matt Tracy
* Hitting 76 Chris Valaika

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