Keep up with the latest trending news in sports with our daily newsletter. I dont think its a bad thing for him to pull the ball more. He has 1967 plate appearances of 92 wRC+ since his rookie season. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Hes struck out just 11. Heres what you need to know: Its been a disappointing spring for DeJong, 29, who entered camp this season on the final year of his six-year, $26 million contract. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) Paul DeJong was one of three St. Louis Cardinals players who began the 2023 season on the injured list.. DeJong has been dealing with a back issue, while Wilking Rodriguez is out with a shoulder issue and Adam Wainwright is recovering from a groin injury.. He wasnt guaranteed anything. His setback will require at least a week of rehab, meaning DeJong will all but surely start the season on the injured list. The Cardinals would likely have to take a loss on the deal, but I didnt see any way that they would bring him back. The Cardinals will experiment with multiple middle infielders at shortstop, including Brendan Donovan and potentially Robertson. But he was still almost flyball-exclusive as a hitter. He replaced the high leg kick that he used early in his career with a more balanced stance, in which he keeps his weight back and barely lifts his foot. But his weakness is against right-handed pitching. DeJongs last rehab game in Memphis was a six-RBI performance that included a single, double, and a home run on Friday. He was optioned to Triple A last May after hitting .130 over the first 24 games of the year. However, the flashy rookie had his troubles with Verlander on Wednesday, striking out in each of his first two plate appearances. Ranking the 10 worst contracts in the National League Central. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. In the 2022 MLB season, the one-time All-Star hit just .157 to go with a .245 OBP and .285 SLG. Others want to believe he can get back to his All-Star self. The most important thing is just getting a routine and playing again, not having to look over your shoulder, Mozeliak said. Next. In 2017 DeJong hit .285/.325/.532 with 25 homers in 443 PAs and a 123 wRC+. Maybe we should have expected the unexpected at the end of this game. The 29-year-old baseball player was born in Orlando, Florida, USA. Mozeliak used that rationale to warrant giving him one more chance and told him as much over the offseason before MLB induced a lockout. Coming off a 2022 season in which he hit .157 and was demoted to Triple-A Memphis on May 10, DeJong spent most of his offseason at the teams Florida complex reworking his approach at the plate. Try to go the other way. May 11, 2022 9:18 am. Could DeJong do that again? Though DeJong has amassed a 0.5 bWAR on the year, he was hitting just .177 with a .648 OPS and seven homers when he went on the IL. After that first hiccup, though, Holmes didnt allow a run the rest of the month. His 24 and 9 wRC+ pre-demotion and post-return surge are extremely discouraging. With Gorman now in the majors, there is simply no room for DeJong. The Cardinals must make a roster move to activate DeJong, and the team is still weighing that decision. Practically giddy over what they hoped they had developed, the Cardinals inked DeJong to a regrettable arbitration buy-out deal. Mozeliak said the club made the decision to promote DeJong on Friday afternoon, but the logistics of joining the Cardinals in Seattle during their 10-game road trip complicated matters a bit. A look at internal options for the rotation. And, yeah, he has way too many junk wax baseball cards. Throw Kramer Robertson in there, too, if you want. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). But Im just thankful for my chance to be here still, and I'm just going to do what I can every day until I hear anything else.. He will be reevaluated after that start and would be considered for a return to the majors. But with Motter having recorded a hit in two of his first three games, DeJongs path back to the big leagues will not be devoid of adversity. In May, Holmes did not allow a single run. He gave up an earned run in the sixth inning on Opening Day, and six of his first nine appearances on the season were before the eighth inning. In May, DeJong played just eight games for the Cardinals, batting .115 with a .297 OPS. Flaherty has struck out 17 batters and walked 17 in 21 1/3 innings. Making his caseA day after Dakota Hudson took a step backward in the battle for the Cardinals sixth starter/swingman job, right-hander Jake Woodford may have sealed his case to head north with the team in that spot. Try a week on us. The Cardinals would have to pay someone else between $6-9.17M to take DeJong off their hands while also paying another player to come and fill the backup middle infield role. He saw fewer and fewer pitches in the zone. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). He wasn't much better last . "I'm just really happy to be back here and contributing the way that I am.". It doesnt mean he was pleased with it but he understood it.. We felt like wed get him moving and determine whats next for him.. Hed been fantastic since New York traded for him before the July 2021 trade deadline, and the Yankees expected to give him a season full of important outs, though not necessarily at the very end of ballgames. They also did nothing to create a competition for him besides a too-young-to-even-consider Masyn Winn, journeyman not-a-short-stop Taylor Motter, and Evan-Mendoza-replacement Jose Fermin. Its a small sample size, of course, but its an encouraging start since it is something he struggled with in the minors. He made his MLB debut in 2017. Paul DeJong #11 of the St. Louis Cardinals up to bat against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on April 16, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He spent most of the offseason at the Cards' Florida complex reworking his swing, then he hit .154 with one homer and six walks across 19 plate appearances in Grapefruit League play. The Cardinals are hopeful he can rediscover the swing that helped him hit 25 home runs as a rookie in 2017, 19 in 2018 and a career-best 30 in 2019, when he was the NLs starting shortstop in the All-Star Game. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. The result was a league-average player with improving defense. Clay Holmes was on the mound for the visitors. He batted just .223 but found his power again, popping nine home runs and posting an .820 OPS. I knew if I did my job down there, I would get a chance back up here. That said, its hard to see another team taking on his contract considering his extensive struggles in the majors, and that would mean that DeJong being DFAd is the most likely scenario, barring him bouncing back in a big way and Gorman struggling in the majors. Tommy Edman transitioned from second base to shortstop while top infield prospect Nolan Gorman took over at second. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. I thought I was ready to take ground balls today and flared it back up, DeJong said. Catchers once in a lifetime lunge saves Cardinals, The world watches (and makes donations) as St. Louis bald eagle raises eaglet from a rock, Governor threatens to keep Missouri lawmakers in session over transgender rules, Barat Academy in Chesterfield to close after years of financial troubles, Four young people die in Old Monroe head-on crash, Court records online include private information for thousands of Missouri residents, Archdiocese releases third draft of proposed changes to St. Louis parishes. I fully commend DeJong for trying something new and for his willingness to put in the work to change. Get ALL the latest MLB news straight to your inbox! (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) / In the past, when things went wrong, I was thinking too far ahead. Void in ONT. I think the ability to go down there and have a reset is important, but hes going to have to actually make physical change so that the result looks different.. DeJong, a former All-Star, struggled mightily last year. They locked up their guy, hoping and believing that he would at least be an above-average hitter and they had faith they could teach him how to play the position defensively. DeJong is back. Even though the past can provide hints and suggestions as to what might happen, the past does not absolutely dictate the future. He was optioned to Triple A last May after hitting .130 over the first 24 games . Its about sticking with things moment to moment. He emerged from those sessions with a more balanced swing, newly confident that he could get back to being the player who smashed 74 home runs from 2017-19, finished second in National League Rookie . The hope is that the move to Triple A will alleviate some of the pressure that had been accumulating since late last season, when DeJong lost his starting job to Edmundo Sosa. So that part will be reduced. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the position of shortstop and was drafted in the 2015 MLB Draft in the fourth round. What worked for DeJong during his long period in Memphis? The warning signs were there from the beginning. DeJong had missed the last few games due to lower back tightness but was targeting a return to game action by Tuesday. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. His 29.1 percent strikeout rate was in the 17th percentile and his hard-hit percentage (35.8) and barrel percentage (5.7) both ranked in the 30th percentile. With five named starters and seven returning relievers, one of them appears ticketed to Memphis to begin the year. Maybe they just really like a very likable player that theyve worked with for a decade and wanted to give him another chance? Obviously, its still very early in the season. But he also had a 30% K rate. During his rehab assignment, Paul DeJong (back) batted .302 and produced a .900 OPS in 12 games between Class Low-A and Class AAA. "Earlier in the year, I might have dreaded an opportunity like that, but now I'm thankful for an opportunity like that, after everything thats happened this year," he said. DeJong's best offensive year is still his 2017 rookie season, as he finished second in NL Rookie Of The Year voting, and the Cards locked him up with a six-year, $26MM contract extension. In his return to the lineup, DeJong will hit ahead of rookie Jordan Walker, who got a day off on Saturday and is batting .271 with 11 RBIs in 19 games to start his MLB career. DeJong went 2-for-13 in his spring appearances, though he did work six walks, and one of those two hits was a home run. He had been scheduled to return to action Tuesday, before experiencing the setback Monday morning trying to backhand a ground ball and simulate his throwing motion. And, yeah, he wears a mask. Paul DeJong is looking to bounce back in 2023. Give DeJong some credit. For Marmol, both elements of DeJongs game carry equal weight. Following an offseason spent reworking his swing, DeJong was limited to 13 at-bats during spring training because of a back injury. And doing it against AAA pitchers is meaningless. The at-bats just looked the same, he explained. By Tuesday morning, DeJongs fate was decided. I think theres an adjustment to be made both physically and mentally, he added. June 11th, 2021. And have you gotten ample amount of playing time to be prepared when called upon? Mozeliak said from T-Mobile Park on Saturday before the Cardinals faced the Mariners. I would expect the playing for (Paul DeJong) to fluctuate, and to resemble what Oli Marmol has been doing in the outfield, Woo said. 23 AAA: .353/.450/.618, with a 12.5% BB rate, a 30% K rate, and a 174 wRC+. THE COLD WIRE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF COLD WIRE MEDIA. This league is hard up here, and hell be tested. DeJong, meanwhile, was tasked with getting his career back on track in the minors. Lets look at his AAA season to see if we can find a glimmer of hope in his tiny sample size of 40 plate appearances. (, Rodriguez began a rehab assignment on Thursday with Class AAA Memphis where he pitched a scoreless inning of relief and struck out one batter. Andrew Knizner will be Flahertys batterymate as Willson Contreras is slotted into his regular five spot in the lineup as the Cardinals designated hitter. I feel like collectively, as an organization, we were positive and patient through that process. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. The . Tommy Edman has a 94 career wRC+ against right-handed pitchers as a lefty batter. He had an unsustainable .349 BABIP, a well-below average 4.7% walk rate, and a 28% strikeout rate in 17. From there, DeJongs average exit velocity began to dip. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. When DeJong struggled mightily to open last season, the Cardinals sent him to Triple-A and shifted Edman -- a Gold Glove winner at second in 2021 -- to short. Instead, DeJong faltered to the point where Mozeliak had no choice but to demote him. As we look forward to his 23 season, even in this very early season sample size, we can draw some notable parallels with his lamentable 22 season. "I had faith that I would make my return," DeJong told The Sporting News after the game Friday. El Nio is likely coming back. His xBA (expected batting average) of .158 ranked in the bottom percent of the entire league. The most likely solution? Thats not asking that much of him. In July, DeJong was hit with a pitch and missed a few weeks. He hit fewer fly balls. All while providing solid-to-good defense himself? However, hes been unable to carry over the momentum from that moment because of multiple injuries. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. What served as the deciding factor was the quality of DeJongs at-bats, which Marmol felt had not improved, and needing overall better production through the lineup. DeJong has been dealing with a back issue, while Wilking Rodriguez is out with a shoulder issue and Adam Wainwright is recovering from a groin injury. last time Flaherty took the mound for the Cardinals, he threw a season-high six innings and allowed a season-high four runs on four hits against Arizona on April 17. In order for Gorman to be used effectively, he would need to also see ample reps at second base, a position he has played professionally for just over a year. The adjustment wasnt coming to fruition in the actual games. The St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong has finally made his debut in the 2023 MLB season and it did not take him much time before making his presence felt on offense. Despite the All-Star appearance, and the 30-homer season. Hes considerably better against righties than lefties. He is the winner of the 2019 All-Star award. Paul Sterling DeJong (born August 2, 1993) is an American professional baseball shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is then expected to advance through light throwing. There was a problem saving your notification. Before his back flared up, he was limited to hitting only during the first week of camp as he recovered from right arm soreness. (, Cardinals send prized prospect Jordan Walker to Class AAA in curious series of moves, Rudderless ship of chaos: St. Louis judge advances Kim Gardner contempt case, What Oliver Marmols gamble in ninth vs. LA reveals about managing to spark Cardinals, How sending Jordan Walker to Class AAA is a bet clarity can correct muddled outfield: Cardinals Extra, Messenger: Kim Gardner drives the judicial bus over her employees and into the ditch, A closer on ice. A World Series winner as a player and the big, booming voice of summer as a broadcaster, St. Louis native spent more than 50 years as a champi, Walker was not in the internal lineup Wednesday for a third consecutive day, and the reason: He's being demoted to Class AAA. If Sosa doesnt seize the opportunity, Edman may be forced to slot over to shortstop and refine his skills on the fly. It seemed best for the club to work out a change-of-scenery type deal that would allow him to compete at SS and try to get himself right.
North Kingstown Deaths,
How Long Has Greg Street Been On V103,
Land Owned Manufactured Home Communities In Florida,
Schweppes Russian Wild Berry Schwangerschaft,
Articles W