Paul Sterling DeJong (born August 2, 1993) is an American

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professional ...

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists wh ...

for the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2017. A native of Orlando, Florida, DeJong attended and played

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional p ...

Illinois State University Illinois State University (ISU) is a public university in Normal, Illinois. Founded in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University, it is the oldest public university in Illinois. The university emphasizes teaching and is recognized as one of th ...

(ISU). He was selected by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2015 MLB draft. In 2017, his rookie season, he led

National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team ...

(NL) shortstops in

home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...

s with 25. He was the club's starting shortstop for the subsequent seasons until he began struggling offensively during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He lost his starting spot and was demoted to Triple-A in early May 2022 before being recalled that July.

Early life and amateur career

DeJong was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, before moving to

Antioch, Illinois Antioch is a village in the U.S. state of Illinois. Antioch is part of the larger Antioch Township within Lake County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,622. The village is nestled into the Chain O'Lakes waterway system and borders ...

, at the age of 11. He grew up an

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bos ...

fan. DeJong graduated from

Antioch Community High School Antioch Community High School, Antioch, or ACHS, is a public four-year high school located in Antioch, Illinois, a far north suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Community High School District 117, which also includes La ...

in 2011. As a senior, he batted .430 with four home runs and 30 RBIs, leading his team to a 21-10 record. He attended

where he played

for the Redbirds. He was a preferred walk on. As a freshman in 2013, he batted .260 in 100 at bats with no

s. DeJong has said that he increased weight training between his freshman and sophomore years, gained about of muscle, increasing his strength and speed. In 2014, he played second base,

third base A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball or softball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In the scoring system us ...

, and

catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the ( home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the ca ...

, batting .349 with nine home runs and 48

runs batted in A run batted in (RBI; plural RBIs ) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if the ba ...

(RBIs). After the 2014 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates chose DeJong in the 38th round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft as a catcher. He did not sign with the Pirates and returned to Illinois State. In 2015, DeJong batted .333 while leading the Redbirds in hits (70), runs scored (47), doubles, home runs (14), and RBIs (48). He played

, second base, third base, and catcher, and also appeared at

designated hitter The designated hitter (DH) is a baseball player who bats in place of another position player, most commonly the pitcher. The position is authorized by Major League Baseball Rule 5.11. It was adopted by the American League in 1973 and later by th ...

. He was named All-

Missouri Valley Conference The Missouri Valley Conference (also called MVC or simply "The Valley") is the third-oldest collegiate athletic conference in the United States. The conference's members are primarily located in the midwest. History The MVC was established ...

first team as a utility player. He also earned Academic All-District honors for District 5. In 2015, DeJong graduated from ISU with a degree in

biochemistry Biochemistry or biological chemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology and ...

with a pre-medical emphasis. He had a 3.74

GPA Grading in education is the process of applying standardized measurements for varying levels of achievements in a course. Grades can be assigned as letters (usually A through F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), as a percentage, or as a numbe ...

and a plan to attend medical school in case a career in

would not have worked out. He also still had one year of college baseball eligibility remaining. '' Baseball America'' ranked him as the 108th-best prospect for the 2015 MLB draft. The

selected him in the fourth round (131st overall).

Professional career

Minors

DeJong signed with the Cardinals for $200,000, and made his professional debut with the

Johnson City Cardinals The Johnson City Cardinals were a Minor League Baseball team based in Johnson City, Tennessee. The team was affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals organization from 1975 through 2020 and played in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. The team wo ...

of the Rookie-level Appalachian League. After ten games, he was promoted to the

Peoria Chiefs The Peoria Chiefs are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. The team was established in 1983 as the Peoria Suns. They are located in Peoria, Illinois, and are named for the Peor ...

of the Class A

Midwest League The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...

. In 66 games between the two teams, he batted .316/.394/.516 with nine home runs and 41 RBIs. In 2016, he played for the

Springfield Cardinals The Springfield Cardinals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springfield, Missouri. They compete as a member of the Texas League's North Division. The Cardinals began play in 2005. The team is owned by the 11-time Major League Baseball ...

of the

Class AA Double-A (officially Class AA) is the second-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946, below only Triple-A. There are currently 30 teams classified at the Double-A level, one for each team in Major League ...

Texas League The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

, and was selected as a Texas League All-Star. He finished the 2016 season batting .260 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs in 132 games. After the season, the Cardinals assigned DeJong to the Glendale Desert Dogs of the

Arizona Fall League The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an off-season sports league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) which operates during the autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. Arizona Fall League rosters are fille ...

(AFL). To begin the 2017 season, the Cardinals assigned DeJong to the

Memphis Redbirds The Memphis Redbirds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They are located in Memphis, Tennessee, and are named for their Major League Baseball affiliate. The Redbir ...

of the

Class AAA Triple-A (officially Class AAA) has been the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946. Currently, two leagues operate at the Triple-A level, the International League (IL) and the Pacific Coast League (PCL). ...

Pacific Coast League (PCL). In 46 games, he batted .294 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs before his first major league promotion. On defense, he made 37 appearances at shortstop, four at second base, and three at third base. The Cardinals promoted DeJong to the major leagues on May 28,

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a s ...

, as they moved second baseman Kolten Wong to the disabled list (DL).

St. Louis Cardinals

2017

DeJong made his major league debut on May 28, 2017, playing at

Coors Field Coors Field is a baseball stadium in downtown Denver, Colorado. It is the home field of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies. Opened in 1995, the park is located in Denver's Lower Downtown neighborhood, two blocks from Union Station. The ...

against the Colorado Rockies. Facing

Greg Holland Gregory Scott Holland (born November 20, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington N ...

in his first at bat, DeJong hit a home run on his first swing, becoming the ninth Cardinals player to homer in his first at bat in the major leagues. On July 8 against the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

, he set both a Cardinals shortstop and a number eight hitter record with four extra base hits in one game, including three doubles and one home run. The next day, DeJong became the first rookie in MLB history to get seven extra-base hits in a three-game series. After batting .298/.347/.638 (.985 OPS) with eight home runs and 16 RBI in the month of July, DeJong was named the

(NL) Rookie of the Month. He was the first Cardinals player to win the award since Wong in May

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

. DeJong became the starting shortstop in June after Aledmys Diaz was optioned to Memphis. On August 19, DeJong hit his 20th home run, off

Juan Nicasio Juan Ramón Nicasio (born August 31, 1986) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, P ...

, becoming the fourth Cardinals rookie to do so, in a 6−4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. DeJong finished his 2017 rookie campaign with a .285 batting average, 65 RBIs, and 25 home runs — the latter more than any other

shortstop that year. Only Albert Pujols had hit more home runs as a rookie in club history, doing so in 2001. Overall, DeJong hit 38 home runs for Memphis and St. Louis. He placed second in the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year balloting behind Cody Bellinger, who won unanimously.

2018

On March 5,

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the Unit ...

, DeJong agreed to a six-year contract extension with St. Louis through the 2023 season worth a guaranteed total of $26 million. The deal also includes two option years for a maximum value of $51.5 million. It is the largest-ever agreement with a player who had not yet completed at least one full year of major league service. DeJong returned in 2018 as the Cardinals' starting shortstop. His first multi-home run game came on April 1, 2018, as he hit two home runs to help lead the Cardinals to a 5-1 victory over the

. He was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career on May 18 with a fractured left hand caused from being hit in that hand the previous night that required surgery. Over 41 games prior to the injury, he slashed .260/.351/.473 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs. He was activated on July 6, and returned to the lineup that night. DeJong finished his 2018 campaign batting .241 with 19 home runs and 68 RBIs in 115 games.

2019

Batting .261 with 13 home runs and 36 RBIs, DeJong was selected to represent the Cardinals at the

All-Star Game An all-star game is an exhibition game that purports to showcase the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or d ...

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

. On July 24, while playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at

PNC Park PNC Park is a baseball stadium on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth home of the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). It was opened during the 2001 MLB season, after the controlled implosion of the Pira ...

, DeJong hit three home runs, becoming the first St. Louis shortstop ever to accomplish that feat. On August 19, DeJong hit a home run that struck the 'M' letter of Big Mac Land at

Busch Stadium Busch Stadium (also referred to informally as "New Busch Stadium" or "Busch Stadium III") is a baseball stadium located in St. Louis, Missouri. The stadium serves as the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, the city's Major League Baseball (M ...

, knocking the neon bulb out of the letter. DeJong finished the 2019 regular season slashing .233/.318/.762 with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs over 159 games. On defense, he had the best fielding percentage of all major league shortstops (.989). Per ''Baseball-Reference.com,'' he led all National League fielders in defensive

Wins Above Replacement Wins Above Replacement or Wins Above Replacement Player, commonly abbreviated to WAR or WARP, is a non-standardized sabermetric baseball statistic developed to sum up "a player's total contributions to his team". A player's WAR value is claimed to ...

(WAR) with 3.3 and assists (435), and NL shortstops in putouts (211) and double plays turned (119). Following the season, he was nominated for his first Gold Glove Award.

2020

On August 4, 2020, it was announced that DeJong had tested positive for

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...

, and he was placed on the injured list. He returned to the team on August 23 and finished the shortened season hitting .250/.322/.349 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 45 games.

2021

DeJong returned as St. Louis' starting shortstop for the 2021 season. On May 14, 2021, he was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a rib fracture. He was activated on June 11. After struggling at the plate and the positive play of Edmundo Sosa, DeJong eventually moved into a reserve role. However, he shortly moved back into a starting role after Sosa sustained a wrist injury in early September. DeJong finished the 2021 season with 356 at-bats over 113 games, slashing .197/.284/.390 with 19 home runs and 45 RBIs.

2022

Once again, DeJong returned as the Cardinals' starting shortstop for the 2022 season. On May 10, 2022, DeJong was demoted to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds after batting .130/.209/.208 with one home run over 24 games to start the season. On July 30, the Cardinals traded Sosa to the Philadelphia Phillies and DeJong was recalled from Memphis the same day and placed into the starting lineup as their shortstop. He hit a two-run home run in his first game back, against the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...

. On August 7, DeJong hit his 100th career home run, a three-run home run to help lead the Cardinals to a 12-9 win and sweep over the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...

Personal life

DeJong has a younger brother, Matthew, and a younger sister, Emma. After the 2017 season, DeJong participated in a scientific study as

laboratory A laboratory (; ; colloquially lab) is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. Laboratory services are provided in a variety of settings: physic ...

assistant with Lawrence Rocks exploring the effects of differing temperatures on the flight of the path of the baseball. DeJong and Rocks also appeared together on ''MLB Now'' at the 2017 winter meetings. Lawrence Rocks is the father of

Burton Rocks Burton Evan Rocks (June 25, 1972), born in New York City, is an American sports attorney/agent, and writer. Rocks collaborated with Yankee outfielder Paul O'Neill on the 2003 ''New York Times'' bestseller ''Me and My Dad: A Baseball Memoir''. ...

, who negotiated DeJong's first major league contract.

References

External links

Illinois State Redbirds bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dejong, Paul Living people 1993 births National League All-Stars Baseball players from Orlando, Florida Major League Baseball infielders St. Louis Cardinals players Illinois State Redbirds baseball players Johnson City Cardinals players Glendale Desert Dogs players Peoria Chiefs players Springfield Cardinals players Memphis Redbirds players Wisconsin Woodchucks players