He loves to fish, and the biggest fish he has ever caught was in Florida: an 80-pound tarpon that took an hour to reel in…when Austin and his wife, Alexis, got married in 2018, their cake was decorated to look like a fish leaping out of the water…the cake read: “To my Catch of a Lifetime.”... His brother, Parker, is an outfielder selected by the Tigers in the second round of the 2018 Amateur Draft…four and a half years younger, Parker is two inches taller than Austin…Austin was able to watch Parker’s selection on television…as kids, Austin broke Parker’s collarbone on a trampoline bouncing him over the gate…the two work out together in the offseason... Austin and Parker both wore No. 16 for the Grayson High School baseball team…the Rams jointly honored the brothers’ success by retiring their number at a ceremony on the field in 2019…the school commemorated the moment by unveiling a sign shaped like a jersey, bearing their shared name and number... Austin’s dad, Kenny, played football and baseball at Morehead State, earning first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors as a third baseman… his mother, Staci, played softball for Georgia Southern and then Georgia State... Austin grew up rooting for Atlanta sports teams, especially the Braves, and calls Chipper Jones his favorite player.
2022
Limited to 36 games in his first season with the Tigers in 2022 after spending much of the year on the injured list... Reached base four times in his Tigers debut on April 8 vs. Chicago (AL), going 1x2 with a triple and three walks...marked his third career game with three walks... Hit safely in his first six games of the season, going 10x21 with five runs scored, a triple, two RBI and three walks...was the longest hitting streak to start a season in his career and tied for the fifth-longest by any Tigers player since 2013... Voted Tigers Player of the Month for April, hitting .328/.434/.422 with two doubles, two triples and 11 RBI in 18 games...led the Tigers in most offensive categories, including all three slashline rates, hits (21), doubles, runs (8), RBI, walks (10) and total bases (27)... Sidelined from May 16-June 7 with vertigo... On the COVID injured list from June 17-28... Placed on the injured list on June 28 with an Achilles tendon strain and missed the rest of the season.
2021
His 106 RBI ranked seventh in the AL and tied for fifth in club history, and were the most by a Ray since Evan Longoria (113) in 2009…became the sixth player (11th time) in club history with 100 RBI... Led the majors with 19 game-winning RBI, which was a club record ahead of Evan Longoria (16) in 2011…tied for third in the majors with 29 go-ahead RBI behind SEA Kyle Seager (32) and OAK Matt Olson (31)…tied Fred McGriff in 2000 for the most in a season in franchise history... His .234 avg. was second-lowest in club history for a 100-RBI season (Carlos Peña, .227 in 2009)... His 24 RBI in the first inning ranked second in the AL behind KC Salvador Perez (28)…his 40 RBI in the seventh inning or later tied TOR Marcus Semien for second in the majors behind SEA Mitch Haniger (45)... Hit .299 (40-for-134) with RISP, compared to a .211 avg. (81-for-384) in all other situations… min. 100 AB, led the team in avg. with RISP... Had a .576 SLG in wins and a .264 SLG in losses... Totaled 27 HR, including 24 HR vs. RHP…two of his three HR off lefties came in September... Made his second Opening Day active roster, both starts (1-LF, 1-RF)... On Opening Day at MIA, homered off Yimi García in the eighth inning for the only run of a 1-0 win…has homered in both career Opening Day starts, including a leadoff homer off Justin Verlander in 2019 before opening the 2020 season on the COVID-19 Related IL…became the fourth player with multiple Opening Day homers for the Rays, joining Evan Longoria (4), Gerald Williams (2) and Ben Zobrist (2)... On May 4 at LAA, recorded a career-high five RBI with a RBI groundout and the second multi-HR game of his career, following April 12, 2019, at TOR…became the first Ray to reach 2 HR and 5 RBI since Eric Sogard on Aug 3, 2019, vs. MIA…it was the second time in club history a player hit multiple homers off the same reliever in a single game, joining B.J. Upton on Sep 9, 2012, vs. TEX... On May 29 vs. PHI, hit a two-run homer off Zack Wheeler in the first inning and a go-ahead single on an 0-2 pitch off José Alvarado in the 8th... On July 18 at ATL, entered as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning and hit a sacrifice fly in each of the fifth and seventh, the first Ray with two in the same game since Evan Longoria (2) on Aug 29, 2016, at BOS…he became the first player in franchise history to enter off the bench and record a pair of sacrifice flies and was the first player in the majors to achieve that since BOS Bobby Kielty on Aug 24, 2007, at CHW (G1)... On July 21 vs. BAL, hit a two-run, walk-off single with 2 outs in the ninth inning, the first walk-off hit of his career…became the fourth Ray to deliver a walk-off hit with the team down to its final strike, joining Carl Crawford on March 31, 2003, vs. BOS, Andy Sheets on Aug 15, 2002, vs. CLE and Randy Winn on May 11, 2002, vs. BAL... On July 22 at CLE, hit a go-ahead single off Bryan Shaw in an 0-2 count in the 10th inning… became the second player in Rays history with go-ahead hits in the 9th inning (or later) of back-to-back games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, joining Gerald Williams from July 30– Aug 1, 2000, at KC, vs. CLE... Had two multi-HR efforts within a span of six days, on July 24 at CLE and July 29 vs. NYY... On Aug 19 vs. BAL, was the first in club history with two bases-loaded walks in the same game...On Sep 6 at BOS, hit a game-tying, inside-the-park homer leading off the ninth inning, the first of his career…it was the third time the Rays hit an inside-the-park homer at Fenway Park, following Denard Span in 2018 and Kevin Kiermaier in 2014…it was the majors’ first game-tying, inside-the-park homer in the ninth inning (or later) since KC Mark Teahen on May 27, 2008, vs. MIN (9th)... POSTSEASON: Hit .222 (2-for-9) in three games (two starts) in the ALDS against the Red Sox, with both hits coming in Game 3…hit a two-run homer off Nathan Eovaldi in the first inning, his third career postseason homer…doubled in the eighth and replaced by pinch-runner Manuel Margot, who came around to score the game-tying run.
2020
Limited to 36 games in the season following his breakout campaign…began the season on the COVID-19 Related IL and was reinstated on Aug 4…placed on the 10-day IL (left oblique strain) on Sep 18 and missed the rest of the regular season...Saw his season avg. drop from .244 to .205 over his 14 games (13 starts) in September…hit .140 (7-for-50) with 23 SO during the month...In his season debut on Aug 4 vs. BOS, recorded a pair of hits, including an RBI triple...On Sep 10 vs. BOS, snapped a career-long 0-for18 skid with a RBI double in the 5th inning...On Sep 12 vs. BOS, hit the fifth leadoff homer of his career and it came on a 99.6 mph pitch—the highest velocity to end in a Rays homer since StatCast data is available (2015)…in the 2020 postseason, Mike Brosseau homered on a 100.2 mph fastball from Aroldis Chapman to give the Rays a lead in Game 5 of the ALDS vs. NYY.
POSTSEASON: Hit .137 (7-for-51) with 2 HR and 2 RBI in 16 games (11 starts)…returned from a left oblique strain for the start of the ALDS...In Game 5 of the ALDS vs. NYY, hit a game-tying, solo homer off Gerrit Cole in the 5th inning, the seventh game-tying postseason homer in club history and first in a “winner take all” game…it was the third game-tying homer when facing elimination, joining Evan Longoria in Game 3 of the 2013 ALDS vs. BOS and Rocco Baldelli in Game 5 of the 2008 World Series at PHI.
2019
In his first full season as a Ray, was named co-winner of the Don Zimmer Award as the club's Most Valuable Player along with Charlie Morton, the first tie in the award's 22-year history…the award was chosen by the Tampa Bay Chapter of the BBWAA…led the team with 83 runs, 33 HR, 89 RBI, a .291 avg. and a .558 SLG…was also selected via Player Balloting to the AL All-Star Team, the first of his career...In AL history, only seven other players have matched his totals in avg., homers and triples (7) before the age of 25: BOS Jim Rice (1977), NYY Mickey Mantle (1955), NYY Joe DiMaggio (1937), CLE Hal Trosky (1934, 1936), DET Hank Greenberg (1935), PHI-AL Jimmie Foxx (1929, 1930, 1932) and NYY Lou Gehrig (1927)…all except Trosky are Hall of Famers...Became the seventh AL player in the Wild Card era (since 1994) with his combination of avg., homers and RBI before the age of 25…the others: BAL Manny Machado (2016), LAA Mike Trout (2015), TOR Vernon Wells (2003), SEA Álex Rodríguez (1996, 1998), CLE Manny Ramírez (1996) and SEA Ken Griffey Jr. (1994)...Ranked among AL leaders in triples (7, tied for 5th), slugging pct. (.558, 6th) and OPS (.922, 8th)...Became the 10th player in franchise history with a 30-HR season, and the 2nd-youngest to do it behind 23-year-old Evan Longoria (33) in 2009…his 33 HR were the 2nd-most in the AL by a player age-24 or younger, behind NYY Gleyber Torres (38)…his 33 HR were the 2nd-most by a Rays outfielder (min. 50 pct. of games there) behind Aubrey Huff (34) in 2003...Twenty of his 33 HR came against AL East opponents, including 8 HR against the Blue Jays… it was the most in Rays history against Toronto and tied for the 2nd-most by a Ray against a single opponent, behind Evan Longoria (9) against the Yankees in 2013...His 9 HR against left-handed pitchers were the most by a Rays left-handed hitter since Carlos Peña's club-record 12 in 2009...Led the AL in avg. through June 10 (.341)…was the fourth player in franchise history to lead the AL batting race into the month of June (or later)…he joined Corey Dickerson in 2017 (led the AL with a .330 avg. through June 26), Jason Bartlett in 2009 (.373 through June 6) and Matt Joyce in 2011 (.364 through June 2)...Named AL Player of the Month for September after batting .378/.472/.744 (34-for-90) with 24 runs, 6 2B, 9 HR, 20 RBI and 15 BB…ranked 2nd in the AL in avg., on-base pct., slugging pct. and runs, tied for 4th in homers and tied for 7th in RBI…became only the third Ray to win AL Player of the Month, joining B.J. Upton (June 2009) and Evan Longoria (April 2009)…min. 50 AB, his .378 avg. was the best in club history for September, passing Carl Crawford (.376) in 2010...Homered in three consecutive games on four different occasions: April 9-12 at CWS/TOR, May 26-28 at CLE, vs. TOR, July 14-18 at BAL/NYY and July 31-Aug 3 at BOS, vs. MIA…became the first player in franchise history with four separate instances of this in a single season...Appeared in 138 games and made 129 starts (54- RF, 43-DH, 32-LF)…started at leadoff 53 times, batting .307 (66-for-215) with 13 HR there...Made his first Opening Day roster…on Opening Day vs. HOU, started in right field and hit leadoff…hit the fourth pitch thrown by Justin Verlander out to left-center for his first career leadoff homer…it was the second time in franchise history there was a leadoff homer on Opening Day, following Gerald Williams on April 3, 2000 at MIN (off Brad Radke)...Named AL Player of the Week for April 8-14, the first Ray to win it since Steven Souza Jr. from April 17-23, 2017…hit .545/.630/1.182 (12-for-22) with 2 2B, 4 HR and 12 RBI in 6 games (5 starts)… led the AL in avg., on-base pct., slugging pct. and RBI, tied for 1st in hits and ranked 3rd in homers...Homered in three consecutive games from April 9-12 at CWS/TOR…was the second player in franchise history with at least 3 hits and 1 HR in three consecutive games, joining Evan Longoria from June 25-27, 2008 at FLA/PIT…finished this stretch with 10 hits, 4 HR and 9 RBI-the first leadoff hitter to reach all those numbers in a 3-game span since RBI became an official stat in 1920, according to Stats LLC...On April 9 at CWS, set career highs with 4 hits and 4 RBI and became the first Ray with at least 4 hits and 4 RBI in a game since Steven Souza Jr. on April 6, 2016 vs. TOR…became the second player in franchise history to do that from the leadoff spot, joining B.J. Upton on June 21, 2009 at NYM...On April 12 at TOR, hit solo homers in the 1st and 3rd innings for the first multi-HR game of his career…his second homer was the 21st to reach the 500 Level at Rogers Centre since it opened in 1989 and fourth by a left-handed hitter-until Brandon Lowe did it later in the inning…they were the second and third Rays to hit one there, joining José Canseco on April 12, 1999...Was on the 10-day IL from April 21-May 9 due to a right thumb sprain...On May 18 at NYY, hit a go-ahead solo homer in the 11th inning off Luis Cessa, his first career extra-innings homer…was the second time in franchise history the Rays hit an extra-innings homer at Yankee Stadium, following Carlos Peña on May 6, 2009 (10th inning off Phil Coke)...Recorded 7 hits, 2 HR and 6 RBI over 2 games from May 26-27 at CLE, vs. TOR…according to Stats LLC, the only other times in club history a player matched those numbers over a 2-game span were Meadows from April 9-10 at CWS and Ben Zobrist on April 28, 2011 at MIN (DH)...On May 31 vs. MIN, recorded the 12th steal of home in franchise history in the 3rd inning as part of a double steal with Willy Adames...On July 14 at BAL, homered off Tom Eshelman in the 3rd inning to snap his homerless drought at 143 AB…his homer was the fourth by a Ray to land on Eutaw Street, joining Logan Morrison on July 1, 2017, Aubrey Huff on Aug 21, 2003 and Ben Grieve on Aug 20, 2002...On July 18 at NYY (G1), was the front end of back-to-back homers with Yandy Díaz to lead off the game, his fourth career leadoff homer…it was the second time in club history the Rays hit back-to-back homers to lead off the 1st inning...On Aug 23 at BAL, tied a career high with 4 RBI, all coming on the first grand slam of his career, off Ty Blach in the 2nd inning...Went on a career-high 16-game hitting streak from Sep 1-18, the longest by a Ray since Tommy Pham (17) from Aug 21-Sep 14, 2018…hit .407 (24- for-59) with 8 HR and 19 RBI during the streak...Named AL Player of the Week for Sep 2-8, becoming the third in club history to earn multiple Player of the Week honors in one season, joining James Shields (2) in 2011 and Evan Longoria (3) in 2009…hit .522/.593/1.130 (12- for-23) with 2 2B, 4 HR and 8 RBI in 7 games (6 starts)…led the AL in avg., on-base pct., slugging pct. and total bases (26), tied for 1st in hits, homers and runs (9) and tied for 2nd in RBI...On Sep 18 at LAD, hit a go-ahead, solo homer in the 11th inning, the second extra-innings homer of his career…became the fifth Ray all-time with multiple extra-innings homers in a season, and the first visiting player in major league history to homer in extra innings at both Yankee Stadium and Dodger Stadium in the same season…was the first visiting player to homer in extras at both venues spanning an entire career since Joe Carter (1990 at LAD, 1994 at NYY)...Selected to the All-Star Game as a result of the Player Balloting, his first career selection in his first full season in the majors…at 24 years, 2 months, became the club's youngest All-Star since Matt Moore (24 years, 0 months) in 2013 and youngest position player since Evan Longoria (23 years, 9 months) in 2009...Finished 4th among AL outfielders in the Primary Round of All-Star Game voting, behind LAA Mike Trout, HOU George Springer and HOU Michael Brantley…advanced to the Starters Election, but finished 8th among the nine AL outfielders in that stage...Entered the All-Star Game in the 4th inning as a defensive replacement and played two innings in left field and one inning in right…grounded out to first base in his only at-bat...Started all 6 games (5-LF, 1-RF) but hit only .130 (3-for-23) with 2 2B and 3 RBI… in Game 3 of the ALDS vs. HOU, hit a 2-run double off Wade Miley in the 4th inning.
2018
Recalled from Triple-A Durham on Sep 20 and appeared in 10 games with 5 starts (4-RF, 1-DH) for the Rays…was acquired from the Pirates on July 31 as part of the Chris Archer trade and totaled 59 games (40 starts) in the majors...Appeared in 49 games and made 35 starts over two stints with the Pirates, his first career major league action…according to the Elias Sports Bureau, became the fifth player to debut in the expansion era (since 1961) to hit .400 with 4 HR within his first 40 AB, joining Albert Pujols, Jeff Francoeur, Brian Giles and Yasiel Puig...Named NL Rookie of the Month despite playing in only 13 games (11 starts) following his May 18 recall…hit .409/.426/.795 (18-for-44) with 3 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR and 7 RBI…became the first Pirate to receive the honor since Jung Ho Kang in July 2015…from the date of his debut through the end of the month, led NL rookies in avg., on-base pct. and slugging pct., tied for 2nd in home runs and ranked 3rd in RBI...On May 18 vs. SD, made his major league debut and went 2-for-4…his first career hit was a 4th-inning single off Tyson Ross...On May 20 vs. SD, hit his first career homer, a 2-run shot off Jordan Lyles in the 6th inning...Joined Durham after the trade and from Aug 1 through the end of the season, led the International League with 10 HR and ranked 2nd with 21 XBH…recorded a 2-HR game on Aug 11 vs. Scranton and a 3-HR game on Aug 29 at Charlotte...On Sep 20 at TOR, made his Rays debut and grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the 9th inning...On Sep 21 at TOR, in his second game with the Rays, became the third player in club history to record 3 hits in a game he didn't start, following Sam Fuld on Aug 28, 2012 at TEX and Aaron Ledesma on Aug 29, 1998 vs. DET (G1)…was the first Ray ever with 3 hits and 3 RBI off the bench...On Sep 29 vs. TOR, homered off Ryan Borucki in the 7th inning, giving the Rays a 3-2 lead in the 4-3 win…was his first homer with the Rays and snapped a streak of 43 games without one.
2017
Entered season ranked as Pittsburgh's No. 1 prospect according to Baseball America...Was also rated by the same publication as the "Best Athlete" and having the "Best Strike Zone Judgment" in Pittsburgh's minor league system...Hit .261 (83-for-318) with 22 doubles, five home runs and 46 RBI in 81 minor league games during an injury-shortened campaign... Began season with Triple-A Indianapolis and produced one hit in his first 23 at bats...Had two hits and tallied first RBI on 4/12 vs. Columbus...Hit first home run on 4/14 at Toledo...Reached base safely in 13 straight games between 4/11-27...Hit .300 (33-for-110) with 10 doubles, two homers, 17 RBI and 28 runs scored in 27 games during the month of May...Placed on 7-day disabled list on 6/22 with a right hamstring strain...Hit .353 (12-for-34) with five extra-base hits and 10 RBI in nine rehab games with the GCL Pirates and West Virginia Black Bears between 7/28 and 8/13...Was recalled from rehab and reinstated from D.L. on 8/15... Went 8-for-30 (.267) in eight games with Indy between 8/16-27 before suffering an oblique strain on 8/27...Missed remainder of the season...Made 33 appearances (32 starts) in center field, 24 appearances (22 starts) in left field and 15 starts in right field while playing with Indianapolis and did not make an error.
2016
Entered season ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh's second-best prospect and as the 22nd-best overall (leapt to No. 10 in Baseball America's mid-season report)...Also entered season rated as the fourth-best outfield prospect by MLBpipeline.com... Hit a combined .266 (82-for-308) with 25 doubles, 11 triples, 12 home runs and 47 RBI in 87 games between Double-A Altoona, Indianapolis and the West Virginia Black Bears (rehab)...Missed beginning of campaign after suffering an orbital fracture after being hit in the face with a baseball...Was assigned to Altoona on 4/25...Made season debut on 4/25 and reached base on an infield single in his first at bat...Hit three triples in four games from 5/18-23...Homered for the first time as part of a 3-for-3 day while also collecting three RBI and two stolen bases on 5/30... Was named the Eastern League Player-of-the-Week for the week of 5/30 to 6/5 after hitting .444 in seven games with five triples, two homers, nine runs scored and two stolen bases for the week... Went deep in back-to-back games on 6/8 and 6/9...Tied Kevin Sefcik (21 games in 2002) for the longest hitting streak in Curve history on 6/12...Extended his hitting streak to 24 games with a first inning solo homer on 6/16; also compiled a 29-game onbase streak from 5/15 to 6/16...Established an Altoona record by hitting safely in 24 consecutive games before being promoted to Indianapolis on 6/18; hit .404 (38-for-94) during the streak, which was also the longest by an Eastern League player for the season...Was promoted to Indianapolis on 6/18...Hit safely in each of his first two Triple-A games to extend his streak to 26 games, the second-longest hitting streak by a Pirates minor leaguer since 2005 (Raul Fortunato hit safely in 36 straight games in 2009)... Was placed on the disabled list on 7/1 with a right hamstring injury...Was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game but did not play due to his hamstring injury...Began rehab assignment with the West Virginia Black Bears on 7/29...Came off the D.L. on 8/6 and had two hits in his first game back...Collected a careerhigh five RBI on 8/30 vs. Toledo...Recorded eight RBI over three games from 8/30 to 9/1...Had 16 of his 27 hits with Indianapolis go for extra bases...Was named the Eastern League's Most Exciting Player by Baseball America in early August.
2015
Was ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh's thirdbest prospect entering the season...Was named to the Florida State League mid- and post-season season All-Star teams...Led the Florida State League in hits; the most in a single season in Marauders history and the most by a Pirates minor leaguer since Rajai Davis in 2004 (160 hits); also paced the league in total bases (207)...Ranked third in the Florida State League in batting and runs scored and fifth in on-base percentage...Recorded a club-record 46 multi-hit games...Recorded five hits on 5/14 to become the fifth player in Marauders history to record at least five hits in a game...Went 2-for-4 in Double-A debut on 9/2 at Bowie...Hit a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth inning in Game One of the Western Division Series on 9/9 vs. Bowie...Was named to the Fall Stars Game in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit a two-run home run off Tigers prospect Adam Ravenelle... Finished sixth among Pirates minor leaguers in games played (127) and fifth in batting average.
2014
Entered season ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh's fourth-best prospect and as having the "Best Strike-Zone Discipline" in the system...Hit .400 during an eight-game hitting streak from 7/15-24...Was named the South Atlantic League Player-of-theWeek for the week of 8/4-10 after hitting .480 with four doubles, two homers and seven RBI for the week...Hit .329 in 22 games during the month of August.
2013
Was named to the Gulf Coast League's post-season AllStar team...Finished third in the GCL in slugging percentage, tied for third in extra base hits (21) and fifth in total bases...Hit first professional home run on 7/22 against the GCL Braves...Homered in his first game with Jamestown on 8/31 and also in the final game of the regular season on 9/4...Went 4-for-11 with a homer and three RBI in two playoff games.
