when is paul dejong coming back

In 16 games that month for the Redbirds his first extended time in the minors since 2017 he hit two home runs and had a .634 OPS. Its hard for me to say that anything worked. He ended up with just 40 PAs at Memphis. His fast start in his return from the minors is reminiscent of 2022 when, following a nearly three-month-long demotion due to poor performance, DeJong cranked homers in consecutive days and went on a two-week bender (.646 slugging% and a 182 wRC+) before falling back into his old habits. Holmes started the season with a prominent role in the . Or if it was just the natural evolution of DeJongs swing. So, Dejong returned. Move up in the box, back in the box, sideways in the box, and erase the box with their foot before standing on the plate. The Cardinals' west coast road trip takes them to San Francisco next where they will open up a four-series against the Giants on Monday. Now that's what we call clutch! He went three for four with a homer and no Ks. If you don't, you might want to follow his lead. The at-bats just looked the same, he explained. And, yeah, he has way too many junk wax baseball cards. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. DeJong, who has been the clubs starting shortstop since 2017 and is signed through 2023 on a six-year, $26 million contract, was 10-for-77 with a meager .417 OPS through 24 games. When youre putting a player on rehab, its about: Do you feel good? Prior to joining The Athletic, Katie spent two years covering the minor leagues as an editorial producer for MiLB.com and spent the 2018 MLB season covering the San Diego Padres as an associate reporter for MLB.com. His walks stayed fairly consistent, helped by the rising number of balls out of the strike zone, but his batting average, barrel rate, and expected stats all took a nosedive. What will happen when he starts seeing even more breaking and offspeed pitches than in the past? His second and third at-bats resulted in bloop singles at 75.7 and 69.5 mph, respectively. April 22nd, 2023. He returned in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon, batting 7th and playing shortstop to give Tommy Edman a needed day off. 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.. It's a fine line between competing and working on stuff, Woodford said. Freddie Freeman . "I'm just really happy to be back here and contributing the way that I am.". What made it noteworthy was that it was DeJong's 9th home run in the last 12 games. Subscribe to the Cold Wire MLB newsletter here! And it would backfire on him. The combination would be another collapse. He homered in the second game of the year, and then only had two extra-base hits both doubles the rest of the month. So, back to Fridays game. Believing in my stuff, and knowing that it's small tweaks at this point. Do more work off the tee. 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. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. RHP Chris Flexen (0-3, 7.79 ERA): Flexen comes into Sunday set to face an NL Central team for the third consecutive time. Paul DeJong was one of three St. Louis Cardinals players who began the 2023 season on the injured list. The adjustment wasnt coming to fruition in the actual games. His K and BB rates fit those as well. What Holmes has been most of the season was not what he was Friday night. The Cardinals couldnt justify waiting any longer. On Twitter, Cardinals insider Jeff Jones provided an update on where things stand and revealed what manager Oli Marmol had to say about the matter. SEATTLE -- Shortstop Paul DeJong, whose career has been marred by shocking struggles much of the past three seasons, is headed back to the Cardinals and could be activated as soon as Sunday, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Saturday. But his offense was 20 percentage points below where he started. 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. Some fans want him DFAed and forgotten forever. Tommy Edman will be the clubs starting shortstop this season, and while the Cardinals have a plethora of versatile infielders, DeJong was the most serviceable option at shortstop behind Edman. When he struggled again to open the 2022 season, DeJong was demoted to Triple-A, but eventually worked his way back to the Majors. In that start, Flaherty retired 10 consecutive batters from the second through the fifth innings. St. Louis Cardinals' Paul DeJong (11) and Lars Nootbaar (21) celebrate a 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees following of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, in St. Louis. That new stance seemed to be paying off for DeJong in early March when he hit a long home run off the batters eye against the Nationals. Last chance! We cant if Tommys at second, and we dont want to just move Tommy over there without a strategic plan for that transition.. Its not for lack of familiarity, Marmol explained. He cut down on his Ks in 18 and 19. The most likely solution? 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. I cant do normal things right now, so it's definitely not playable. Thats not asking that much of him. Could DeJong do that again? With so many internal infield options at both the major- and minor-league levels, the Cardinals want to be sure theyve exhausted all their options before resorting to a major roster change. The Cardinals will experiment with multiple middle infielders at shortstop, including Brendan Donovan and potentially Robertson. While his crisp defense bought him an extended leash to figure things out at the plate, by Tuesday morning the organization had come to the decision to send DeJong to the minors. However, after more late-season regression, DeJong decided to tear his batting stance down and start from scratch. . DeJong signed a six-year deal with the Cardinals worth $26 million back in 2018, and he is pressed to have a good performance this year if he wants St. Louis to have his 2024 club option ($12.5 . Tommy Edman has a 94 career wRC+ against right-handed pitchers as a lefty batter. In the 2022 MLB season, the one-time All-Star hit just .157 to go with a .245 OBP and .285 SLG. The Cardinals are 3-6 through their first nine games. Ranking the 10 worst contracts in the National League Central. Try a week on us. Pauly's feeling better, but he'll be sidelined for a few days as [his lower back] mainly hurts when he's bending over for ground balls, but rotation -- as far as his swing -- not so much, Marmol said. Hes not giving away at-bats and has a really selective eye at the plate. The journeyman Motter, who has opened eyes with his versatility and power this spring, is the only member of that group capable of playing the middle infield. (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.. Taylor Motter re, With two statistically more powerful options available off the bench, manager sticks with Dylan Carlson's keen play for key at-bat in 1-0 loss, Clearly, when you look at it just from what we have done, it hasnt been working, says executive John Mozeliak of outfield rotation amidst l, Ryan Helsley, rarely used in recently because Cardinals so rarely had a lead, allows walk-off homer in 5-4 loss to Giants that underscores mul. A nightly look at the day\'s top sports stories, and a first look at the topics St. Louis fans will be talking about tomorrow. Try a week on us. He went 8 for 9 in save opportunities. The clubs first-round Draft pick in 2015, Woodford emerged as a valuable depth arm in 2022, pitching to a 2.23 ERA across 48 1/3 innings in a versatile role. Paul DeJong is a professional baseball player who is currently playing in the Major League Baseball(MLB). Perhaps most importantly, he has only struck out twice. Hes struck out just 11. Heres how Mozeliak and manager Oli Marmol answered: When the Cardinals embarked for Kansas City and San Francisco last week, there was already a heavy sense of pressure mounting on DeJong, who posted a mere .247 on-base percentage through the month of April. However, hes been unable to carry over the momentum from that moment because of multiple injuries. The Cardinals will send right-hander Jack Flaherty to the mound as they look to avoid a sweep vs. Seattle in the first leg of their three-city, west coast road trip. On Sunday, in his first game back after spending much of the past . He was never very good at recognizing and driving non-fastballs. DeJong had been steadily declining since his All-Star-caliber season in 2019, when he hit just .233 but hammered out 30 home runs and 31 doubles. The closest hes gotten since was 16% in 2021. Holmes unleashed a 95 mph sinker that caught a little too much of the plate. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. DeJong had begun spring training on a good note after reworking his swing in the offseason. Yet through the last two seasons, DeJong hasnt been able to regain that form. Thats why taking the time to start becoming comfortable with a possible transition now is so imperative. LHP Packy Naughton (left forearm strain): Since going on the 15-day IL, Naughton has continued a rest program to see how his arm responds. 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. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Very exciting for an organization that hasnt had a power hitter at the position since well, ever. But he also had a 30% K rate. DeJong is expected to join Memphis in Norfolk, Va., within a couple of days. DeJongs presence on the roster seems to illicit only extreme positions. Exciting. DeJong hit just .197 in 2021 and was sent down to the minors last season. I would expect the playing for (Paul DeJong) to fluctuate, and to resemble what Oli Marmol has been doing in the outfield, Woo said. But that start ended with him allowing a homer, double, and a walk to the last three batters he faced to open up the seventh. Thats not $9M former All-Star shortstop levels of production. But when you think about whats best for him, whats best for the organization and really this club right now, we found it was going to be difficult to get him at-bats and get right while were trying to win games at the major-league level. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Thats a recipe for the debacle we saw in 21 and 22 when the only thing that kept DeJong alive was very good defense, the memory of better days, and the contract he signed back when. Then I started working through the budget. He went three for four with a homer and no Ks. Paul DeJong was at bat for the home club. 23 AAA: .353/.450/.618, with a 12.5% BB rate, a 30% K rate, and a 174 wRC+. Flaherty has struck out 17 batters and walked 17 in 21 1/3 innings. He did not allow a single walk. 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. 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. 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. Arenado and ONeill scored, and the Cardinals suddenly led 4-3. Undoubtedly, DeJong's 2018 and 2019 seasons with the club were his best. Void in ONT. (Last updated: April 18), Monday vs. San Francisco: LHP Jordan Montgomery (2-2, 4.84) vs. TBA, Tuesday vs. San Francisco: RHP Jake Woodford 1-2, 6.05) vs. TBA, Wednesday vs. San Francisco: LHP Steven Matz (0-3, 6.55) vs. TBA. In that start, Flaherty retired 10 consecutive batters from the second through the fifth innings. In May, DeJong played just eight games for the Cardinals, batting .115 with a .297 OPS. Yes, he put more balls into play and his slash line was reminiscent of his more average MLB seasons. Gorman, 22, has flashed the tantalizing skills that have made both Cardinals and rival executives gush over his abilities, as he is slashing .385/.500/.539 with a 1.039 OPS in his first 16 plate appearances. As you can imagine, the pressure of playing at this level, especially in this city where winning is demanded, its tough. It was already a bit of a goofy night. It's more just execution, consistency and just fine-tuning stuff.". The Cardinals decided to call up Robertson and leave Gorman in Memphis for a multitude of reasons, with the top priority being playing time. His contact levels would drop again. He has gone 1-for-9 with two walks and three strikeouts. The competition for the right-handed bench bat remains wide open. His breaking and offspeed rates soared. The hope is that DeJong can hit the reset button in multiple facets of his game; one being from a production standpoint and the other stemming from changing his mentality. Maybe they just really like a very likable player that theyve worked with for a decade and wanted to give him another chance? I am sure that little splits-oriented nuance is part of the reason the club decided fairly early in the offseason to bring him back. DeJong, 29, almost certainly would have gotten those at-bats -- and would have fielded the four groundouts to shortstop over the games first four innings. Me? However, DeJong may be close to making his way back. And for one at-bat in the bottom of the eighth inning of a contest between the Yankees and Cardinals, the result was anything but subtle. I thought hitting was good, but I wasn't in a flex spine position now I know I pushed it a little too far, so I need to back off.. If Sosa doesnt seize the opportunity, Edman may be forced to slot over to shortstop and refine his skills on the fly. The Cardinals could take both Yepez and Motter on their Opening Day roster, with Yepez manning the bench bat role and Motter being used as a utility man when needed. With two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth, the Yankees held a one-run lead. (. Im sorry this has happened. Given his recent struggles in previous years, there may not be a clear path back for the former slugger. A day after DeJong was scratched from the lineup because of back pain, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol revealed that the shortstop will be sidelined for a few days with discomfort that prevents him from bending over to field grounders. So whats next for DeJong? His fast start in his return from the minors is reminiscent of 2022 when, following a nearly three-month-long demotion due to poor performance, DeJong cranked homers in consecutive days and went on a . I think hes had a lot of voices in his ear and we need to simplify that, Mozeliak said. Of the four hits he allowed, two here homers. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. So that part will be reduced. A random home run in a AAA game is not normally a noteworthy event. Thats pretty good for a 23-year-old shortstop. dark. The most important thing is just getting a routine and playing again, not having to look over your shoulder, Mozeliak said. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All-Star shortstop Paul DeJong apologized to Cardinals fans for his minor-league demotion, vowing to come back "stronger than ever" when he returns from Triple-A Memphis. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. DeJong, meanwhile, was tasked with getting his career back on track in the minors. Have you recovered from your injury? Seeing fewer of them in the zone and doing less with the ones he saw by focusing on fly balls caused his production to collapse. Gorman will start at second and bat third behind leadoff hitter Lars Nootbaar and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. I dont think its a bad thing for him to pull the ball more. With five named starters and seven returning relievers, one of them appears ticketed to Memphis to begin the year. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the position of shortstop and was drafted in the 2015 MLB Draft in the fourth round. Check back in at stltoday.comthroughout the afternoon and evening for coverage of the game. After an All-Star season in 2019, DeJongs offensive performance has slipped steadily over the last three years. Rodriguez did not allow a hit or walk in the outing and needed just nine pitches (seven strikes) to complete the outing. DeJong's +1 DRS tells a slightly different story than his -3 . His power never returned to his rookie form and his poor contact ability tanked his BABIP. In July, DeJong was hit with a pitch and missed a few weeks. This was dubbed a critical spring for DeJong, coming off a season in which the 2019 All-Star hit .157 and spent more than two months at Triple-A Memphis. Practically giddy over what they hoped they had developed, the Cardinals inked DeJong to a regrettable arbitration buy-out deal. 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. She is a graduate of Arizona State University and originates from Northern California. With a little more than two weeks remaining before St. Louis opens the regular season, DeJong is still sitting on 19 plate appearances and 13 at-bats in what was tabbed as a make-or-break Spring Training for him. 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. Maybe they had a plan to fix him? I can't touch my toes. St. Louis Cardinals' Paul DeJong bats during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday, April 9, 2022, in St. Louis. He struck out three and threw a total of 59 pitches (40 strikes). The . There is data in those 40 PAs to fuel both sides. Others want to believe he can get back to his All-Star self. Juan Yepez, who looks to be on the outside looking in in terms of the outfield, remains under consideration for a pinch-hit role as well. The righty is expected to throw around 75 pitches in the outing. Those realities hid trouble coming. The Yankees led 3-2. The past did not dictate the present. I think theres an adjustment to be made both physically and mentally, he added. And even if he does, its possible that he has played his last game in a Cardinals uniform. He hit more line drives than usual. When he's not writing sports articles, you can find him playing MLB The Show, watching Cardinals games, and scrolling through Star Wars memes. Open their stance. Paul DeJong, just three years after being an All-Star with the St. Louis Cardinals, is playing for the Memphis Redbirds, hoping to turn career around. 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. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. He has 813 plate appearances of 77 wRC+ this decade. He hit just .157 to go along with a lackluster .530 OPS through 77 games with St. Louis. 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. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said the team plans to activate DeJong soon, possibly as early as this weekend. DeJong, who spent most of his rehab assignment with Class AAA Memphis, is starting at shortstop at batting seventh in his return to the lineup. Paul DeJong is back. Marmol said that the Cardinals want to see where things stand towards the end of DeJongs rehab assignment to make an official decision on the matter, as well as the former All-Stars future with the organization. During his rehab assignment, Paul DeJong (back) batted .302 and produced a .900 OPS in 12 games between Class Low-A and Class AAA. Since hes been here, hes put together quality at-bats. Give DeJong some credit. He hit fewer fly balls. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) / The veteran infielder has recorded multiple hits in three of his five games this season and is slashing .471/.471/.941 through 21 plate appearances. Jeff Chiu/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 9 St. Louis Cardinals' Alec Burleson, right, is congratulated by Paul DeJong (11) after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game . SEATTLE -- Shortstop Paul DeJong, whose career has been marred by shocking struggles much of the past three seasons, is headed back to the Cardinals and could be activated as soon as Sunday, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Saturday. Both Mozeliak and Marmol have said before that when Gorman is called up, it will be as an everyday player. 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. Pauly D gives the #STLCards the lead with a two-run double! Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. And doing it against AAA pitchers is meaningless. And even if he does, its possible that he has played his last game in a Cardinals uniform. Rather than keep trying to run him out there and hope for a different outcome, the reality is I think hes more comfortable going down and being able to get his work in and try to get himself where hes more than a productive member in this lineup, something that hes confident in., Mozeliak indicated there is no set timetable for when DeJong could return, noting only that he handled the conversation like a pro., (DeJong) understood, Mozeliak said. The organization was patient: In 2020 he suffered a bout of COVID-19 during the already-condensed pandemic season, and in 2021 broke a rib after being hit by a pitch in mid-May. The issue is now expected to sideline DeJong for at least another week before he can resume baseball activity, heightening the likelihood that he will begin the season on the injured list. You would be hard-pressed to find two players following more divergent paths in the 2022 season. He was sent down to Triple-A Memphis, lost. The ball will tell you whats going on. He started to hit home runs with much more regularity, though, including six in a nine-game stretch that also included 18 RBIs. Thats not nearly enough time to accurately evaluate any change in DeJongs performance or potential. The starting shortstop job was DeJong's to win back, and a promising spring campaign one where DeJong "felt like (himself)" again seemed to indicate this would be the season where he . This is a truth proven over and over again on a nightly basis, of course, in ways both subtle and obvious. Winn, Wednesdays starter, is batting .276 with an .870 OPS this spring. But we passed exciting up a long time ago. ST. LOUIS In a move that was sensible but nevertheless surprising, the Cardinals optioned former All-Star shortstop Paul DeJong to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, citing a need for the 28-year-old to reset amidst another abysmal offensive stretch to open the season. In 2017 DeJong hit .285/.325/.532 with 25 homers in 443 PAs and a 123 wRC+. But that start ended with him allowing a homer, double, and a walk to the last three batters he faced to open up the seventh. Paul DeJong moves his rehab assignment to Memphis Monday. Yeah, it's not ideal, Marmol said after the Cards' 4-1 win over the Mets on Wednesday. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). You already know that DeJong scuffled to begin last season. Tossing five scoreless innings in Mondays 5-0 win over the Marlins, Woodford struck out seven in what could be his last start of an excellent spring. The 29-year-old baseball player was born in Orlando, Florida, USA. DeJongs LD% in AAA this season was over 40%. Its those old habits that I want to take a look at today. Mozeliak used that rationale to warrant giving him one more chance and told him as much over the offseason before MLB induced a lockout. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}. DeJong, meanwhile, has been better in Triple-A, but is still struggling as hes hitting only .189/.244/.243 with a .487 OPS in 41 plate appearances. Asked if he thinks hell be ready to play again before the Cardinals break camp, DeJong said probably not.. Its probably a combination of all three. St. Louis will prepare to be without DeJong for at least a couple of weeks. He wasnt guaranteed anything. We feel pretty good about what Tommys doing at second at the moment, but (shortstop) is not out of the question.. Holmes started the season with a prominent role in the Yankees' bullpen. Memphis manager Ben Johnson, who guided the Triple-A Cardinals to a 12th straight victory on Saturday, feels DeJong is ready to make a difference at the MLB level with his steady demeanor and solid plate approach. 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. Updated: 10:27 PM CDT August 8, 2022. He also dabbles in college hoops and other sports. Rodriguez did not allow a hit or walk in the outing and needed just nine pitches (seven strikes) to complete the outing. How will the Cardinals cover shortstop? I asked if it DeJong would be here once hes healthy, and Marmol said they want to get to that point first and see where things are at before making that determination. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Part of me wants to see progress in there. Get ALL the latest MLB news straight to your inbox! In 14 innings, he surrendered just eight hits while striking out 15. Tommy Edman, the Cardinals regular starting shortstop, is not in manager Oliver Marmols starting lineup after he homered in the ninth inning on Saturday. Despite all those accolades that the broadcasters like to remind us of, DeJong has not been a good Major League hitter since his first few months in the Majors. However, DeJong may be close to making his way back. His flyball rate was 36.4%. PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- In a perfect world, Paul DeJong would have been in the batters box and facing Mets superstar pitcher Justin Verlander on Wednesday while using his newly designed minimal-stride approach to show the Cardinals that he can again be a useful hitter. From there, DeJongs average exit velocity began to dip.

Great Dane Average Height Standing, Articles W