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. Last chance! Maybe they had a plan to fix him? 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. While Marmol declined the notion there was a set timetable for when the organization would like to see progress from DeJong, there was also a growing sense that the clock was ticking. 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. Cardinals 2, Dodgers 2. He hit fewer fly balls. She is a graduate of Arizona State University and originates from Northern California. Dodgers third. His power never returned to his rookie form and his poor contact ability tanked his BABIP. 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. Tommy Edman transitioned from second base to shortstop while top infield prospect Nolan Gorman took over at second. He still hit a high percentage of his fly balls out of the park. I think the Milwaukee Brewers' offense is starting to show signs of life after finishing April ranked 17th in OPS (.673) and 19th in wRC+ (95). 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. Its not for lack of familiarity, Marmol explained. 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. 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. He went three for four with a homer and no Ks. From there, DeJongs average exit velocity began to dip. 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. St. Louis will prepare to be without DeJong for at least a couple of weeks. They will change a bat. Its about sticking with things moment to moment. We'll give him a few days and see how he responds to the treatment and overall work in the weight room, and then go from there.. Try to go the other way. In a move long overduethough jarring, nonethelessthe Cardinals demoted Paul DeJong, optioning the shortstop to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday. Holmes started the season with a prominent role in the . 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. 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. He will be reevaluated after that start and would be considered for a return to the majors. He played college baseball at the Illinois State University. In June, DeJong spent days, then weeks, then the entire month in the minors. THE COLD WIRE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF COLD WIRE MEDIA. Keep up with the latest trending news in sports with our daily newsletter. The Cardinals would likely have to take a loss on the deal, but I didnt see any way that they would bring him back. I think hes had a lot of voices in his ear and we need to simplify that, Mozeliak said. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Then we want him to get into a routine that hes comfortable and that he believes in.. During the offseason, I argued that DeJong would likely be traded. It doesnt mean he was pleased with it but he understood it.. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. DeJong spent most of the offseason reworking his approach at the plate, opting for a minimal-stride stance that allows him to be better balanced and on time for pitches. Latest on St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN Give DeJong some credit. He finished the 2022 season with a poor .157 average. Im sorry this has happened. MLB home run leader Aaron Judge smashed a baseball with an exit velocity of 116.9 mph in the first inning, but he hit the ball right at St. Louis left fielder Tyler ONeill, who caught it and somehow avoided any broken fingers. And even if he does, its possible that he has played his last game in a Cardinals uniform. 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. Follow Katie on Twitter @katiejwoo, Cardinals roster projection 2.0: Who to watch with a week of spring training remaining, MLB spring training standouts: 10 young players who are impressing GMs, scouts. "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. Tommy Edman, the Cardinals regular starting shortstop, is not in manager Oliver Marmols starting lineup after he homered in the ninth inning on Saturday. For me, its about breaking every situation down and not getting ahead of myself, DeJong said. Paul DeJong's age is 29. The Cardinals must make a roster move to activate DeJong, and the team is still weighing that decision. If were being very honest, an 85-100 wRC+ player with some power and quality defense is about as good as we were going to get for a backup SS position. Hes hitting better now. Will it last? After an All-Star season in 2019, DeJong's offensive performance has slipped steadily over the last three years. 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. After an All-Star season in 2019, DeJongs offensive performance has slipped steadily over the last three years. June 11th, 2021. Check back in at stltoday.comthroughout the afternoon and evening for coverage of the game. Cardinals Paul DeJong avoids . 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. Freddie Freeman . Over his four starts this season, Flexen has allowed 22 hits and 15 runs in 17 1/3 innings. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. 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. His 24 and 9 wRC+ pre-demotion and post-return surge are extremely discouraging. I have always wanted to make everyone proud and I plan on coming back stronger than ever.. Marmol and Mozeliak met with the rest of the staff on the teams charter flight back to St. Louis from San Francisco on Sunday night and agreed to contemplate the best move for the organization over the teams scheduled off day Monday. The shortstop, who was demoted to Triple-A last year following two-plus seasons of hitting struggles, homered in his first game back with the Cardinals on July 30. I can't touch my toes. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said the team plans to activate DeJong soon, possibly as early as this weekend. FRANKIE MONTAS TRADE GRADES: How did Yanks, A's fare? We certainly know whats happening with Nolan (Gorman) down in Memphis, but we dont want to necessarily move someone right away without some proper process and a way to get him some work before we eventually do that.. Very exciting for an organization that hasnt had a power hitter at the position since well, ever. He homered in the second game of the year, and then only had two extra-base hits both doubles the rest of the month. But its highly possible that DeJong has played his last game in St. Louis, which would be the latest sign that the Cardinals middle infield of the future will feature Edman at shortstop and Gorman at second base. He did not allow a single walk. Asked if he thinks hell be ready to play again before the Cardinals break camp, DeJong said probably not.. St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong talks with the media at the Winter Warm-Up. So, Dejong returned. What worked for DeJong during his long period in Memphis? DeJong smacked a two-run shot in the eighth inning and scored St. Louis' final run of the game in the ninth. His pull percentage was the highest of his career at any level at 63.6%. What does that mean for Calif.? His HR/FB rate was 25%. Edman played shortstop in college and in the minor leagues and is comfortable either way., He is confident in his ability to play short, Marmol said. Then I started working through the budget. Hes not giving away at-bats and has a really selective eye at the plate. Following an injury- and illness-filled 2020, DeJong clubbed 19 home runs in '21, but he lost his starting job to Edmundo Sosa. We cant if Tommys at second, and we dont want to just move Tommy over there without a strategic plan for that transition.. Thats pretty good for a 23-year-old shortstop. DeJong is expected to join Memphis in Norfolk, Va., within a couple of days. That certainly didnt base that decision on performance. His setback will require at least a week of rehab, meaning DeJong will all but surely start the season on the injured list. DeJong hit just .197 in 2021 and was sent down to the minors last season. RHP Adam Wainwright (groin): Wainwright made a rehab appearance on Wednesday with Class AA Springfield and completed three innings, allowing two runs on four hits. All indications are that he worked in the offseason to improve, simplify his batting approach, and try to get himself back to his former production levels. He batted just .223 but found his power again, popping nine home runs and posting an .820 OPS. Arenado and ONeill scored, and the Cardinals suddenly led 4-3. JUPITER, Fla. -- The Cardinals received some roster clarity Monday, when shortstop Paul DeJong suffered a setback in his return from lower back pain that has kept him off the field for the better part of the past week. His K and BB rates fit those as well. But his weakness is against right-handed pitching. Of the four hits he allowed, two here homers. "I'm just really happy to be back here and contributing the way that I am.". Generally speaking, a player that has been what hes been for a few thousand plate appearances is far more likely to remain what hes been than become something else. Next. Which makes him a candidate to be traded or even designated for assignment. You would be hard-pressed to find two players following more divergent paths in the 2022 season. 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. While Edman is also a contender to slide to shortstop, the Cardinals would prefer to avoid making an abrupt position change, especially one that would unseat the 2021 Gold Glove winner from a position where he is continuing to excel. 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. DeJongs 20-day rehab stint was set to expire on Tuesday, but the team felt comfortable promoting him earlier because of his improved health and the groove he has been in at the plate. ST. LOUIS After going 0-3 against the San Francisco Giants May 8 of this season, Paul DeJong's future as a Cardinal looked murky at best. Eligibility restrictions apply. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) / Void in ONT. 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. With two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth, the Yankees held a one-run lead. 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. However, hes been unable to carry over the momentum from that moment because of multiple injuries. I know it's a long season, so I'm just going to do what I got to do each day, and eventually it'll be good enough to be out there on the field again and show what I can do.. There is data in those 40 PAs to fuel both sides. 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.. His xBA (expected batting average) of .158 ranked in the bottom percent of the entire league. Try a week on us. Paul DeJong was one of three St. Louis Cardinals players who began the 2023 season on the injured list. On Sunday, in his first game back after spending much of the past . I still believe in Tommy Edmans defense. 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. She is a graduate of Arizona State University and originates from Northern California. His walk rate would likely stay the same, if only because he wasnt seeing balls in the zone. Flaherty has struck out 17 batters and walked 17 in 21 1/3 innings. What will happen when he starts seeing even more breaking and offspeed pitches than in the past? 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. Paul was on fire and had a great day on [Friday], Johnson said. Before his back flared up, he was limited to hitting only during the first week of camp as he recovered from right arm soreness. Nolan Arenado (infield single) was on second base, Tyler ONeill (walk) was on first. 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. 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. From 20-22, DeJongs whiffs rose. 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. CHICAGO -- The ever-sturdy, ever-reliable Paul DeJong has been such a constant in Cardinals lineups since he debuted in 2017 that the club has stressed the need to simply find their shortstop a breather over the course of this campaign and those of the past. Paul DeJong is back. 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. What made it noteworthy was that it was DeJong's 9th home run in the last 12 games. But, again, in Memphis. However, Sosa will have a legitimate shot to win the job outright once he returns from the COVID-19 IL, which is likely to come by Thursday. dark. Holmes unleashed a 95 mph sinker that caught a little too much of the plate. To create space for DeJong on the 26-man roster, Taylor Motter was designated for assignment. He was finally called back up at the end of July and homered in each of his first two games before going 1 for 9 in the three-game set against the Cubs to open August. Hes going to get some work at shortstop pregame. Its those old habits that I want to take a look at today. He is also passionate about music, cats, and South Park. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. However, the Cardinals' plans to showcase DeJong fizzled almost from the start when he was unable to play shortstop because of a case of arm fatigue. With Edman playing for South Korea in the WBC and DeJong nursing an injury, an unexpected opportunity has emerged for Masyn Winn, the No. He was sent to Triple-A in 2022 after batting .130 through 24 games into the season. He struck out three and threw a total of 59 pitches (40 strikes). Paul DeJong is looking to bounce back in 2023. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. However, DeJong may be close to making his way back. 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 . Follow Katie on Twitter @katiejwoo, Cardinals optioned former All-Star shortstop. JUPITER, Fla. Back in mid-March, long after the majority of the major leaguers had headed back to the clubhouse for the day or left for the golf course there stood Paul DeJong on an . Flaherty has struck out 17 batters and walked 17 in 21 1/3 innings. Paul DeJong hasnt had a season with a batting average better than .200 since 2020 when he hit .250. And even if he does, its possible that he has played his last game in a Cardinals uniform. (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.. Marmol said the Cards have a plan that includes weight room work and conditioning exercises to ease Edman back into Spring Training following his 16-hour flight from Tokyo. I do think other teams had some interest; he could have been moved. Putting the ask on him midstream, I think its something that we want to be cognizant of and give him the best chance of success and just doing it as a knee-jerk reaction. And Paul Dejong has been what hes been for a while now. With Gorman now in the majors, there is simply no room for DeJong. 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 million) picked up. Brendan Donovan who won the first-ever National League utility Gold Glove last year, is now the most likely to fill the void. In the minors. DeJong will share the middle infield on Sunday with Nolan Gorman. Try a week on us.
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