In that start, Flaherty retired 10 consecutive batters from the second through the fifth innings. St. Louis-L.A. Dodgers Runs 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. (Last updated: April 21), 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. Hes not giving away at-bats and has a really selective eye at the plate. Undoubtedly, DeJong's 2018 and 2019 seasons with the club were his best. @ JohnDenton555. Me? His contact levels would drop again. In 18 and 19, DeJong showed some signs of maturity all while seeing his overall offensive production drop. 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. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Yet through the last two seasons, DeJong hasnt been able to regain that form. In the 2022 MLB season, the one-time All-Star hit just .157 to go with a .245 OBP and .285 SLG. Paul DeJong was at bat for the home club. Motter has had an impressive spring hes posted an .804 OPS with three home runs in 18 spring games while playing virtually around the diamond and the Cardinals do have an open spot on their 40-man roster. I do think other teams had some interest; he could have been moved. During the offseason, I argued that DeJong would likely be traded. Paul DeJong - Age, Bio, Personal Life, Family & Stats - CelebsAges Sosa recorded two hits in a rehab assignment for Double-A Springfield on Tuesday and will be in the lineup once more on Wednesday. By the middle of the month, he was the closer for the Yankees, the team that just didnt seem to lose. Can we get him at-bats here? Marmol asked hypothetically. I dont think its a bad thing for him to pull the ball more. He would learn to walk more topping out at 9.8% in 20. As a result, Taylor Motter was selected to be the Cardinals utility infielder out of spring training. However, DeJong may be close to making his way back. He also dabbles in college hoops and other sports. His power never returned to his rookie form and his poor contact ability tanked his BABIP. There is data in those 40 PAs to fuel both sides. 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. DeJong barely had any time this spring and hit the IL on Opening Day to both rehab his back and get in some Spring Training before roster mechanics forced the club to activate him. Paul DeJong News - RotoWire Holmes started the season with a prominent role in the . He hit more line drives than usual. Donovan was in Tuesdays starting lineup at shortstop, becoming the first MLB player in the modern era (since 1900) to start at four different infield positions in the first four starts of his career. Following an injury- and illness-filled 2020, DeJong clubbed 19 home runs in '21, but he lost his starting job to Edmundo Sosa. 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. Odds and lines subject to change. As you can imagine, the pressure of playing at this level, especially in this city where winning is demanded, its tough. Stream: https://t.co/JyFc2efJXn pic.twitter.com/8QgBfaVWr9, "DeJong put a great swing on one and really hurt him, obviously," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the game. He cut down on his Ks in 18 and 19. Those are never easy conversations, Marmol said. ". 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. DeJong went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and six RBIs on Friday for Memphis, boosting his batting average to .353 and his OPS to 1.068 in nine games. DeJong, 29, will look to bounce back from a brutal 2022 season that saw him slash just .157/.245/.286 in 77 games that culminated in him getting optioned to Triple-A, where he spent 51 games in 2022. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. He returned in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon, batting 7 th and playing shortstop to give Tommy Edman a needed day off. 4 Cardinals Players Who Need Bounce Back Seasons This game is about production, Mozeliak said. Paul DeJong out with back pain, still looking to rebound - MLB You have permission to edit this article. The at-bats just looked the same, he explained. Cardinals: What will Paul DeJong's role be for St. Louis after return An outfield in flux. Hes hitting better now. We need him to be where whatever he decides to do, he believes, and its not us having five or six people tell him what to do.. Paul DeJong Biography- MLB player, Salary, Earnings, Net worth, Married Once he cools off, hell settle right back in as the same hitter he was before and thats not a major league player, regardless of his defense. 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. Paul DeJong is looking to bounce back in 2023. No longer dreading the big moment, DeJong delivers knockout blow - KMOV We have even seen batters try to switch sides. He will be reevaluated after that start and would be considered for a return to the majors. "Tough inning. I thought Clay threw the ball a lot better and was in command of what he was doing, for the most part.". The competition for the right-handed bench bat remains wide open. That certainly didnt base that decision on performance. Wondering how the Memphis crew is pitching to see if they can pitch better? 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 . But we passed exciting up a long time ago. In June, Holmes allowed one earned run and three walks and struck out 12 in 12 innings. Part of me wants to see progress in there. Andrew Knizner will be Flahertys batterymate as Willson Contreras is slotted into his regular five spot in the lineup as the Cardinals designated hitter. The club needs a backup shortstop who can spell Edman against some righties without sacrificing much defense for a contact-oriented pitching staff. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year. Create a personalized profile and stay informed with tailored email notifications. The righty is expected to throw around 75 pitches in the outing. 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 . ST. LOUIS What a major league baseball player was yesterday is not necessarily what he is today. Winn, Wednesdays starter, is batting .276 with an .870 OPS this spring. 2 prospect in St. Louis' system, per MLB Pipeline. 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. The . Perhaps most importantly, he has only struck out twice. Katie Woo is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the St. Louis Cardinals. Youre never looking at rehabs solely on performance, but he has been playing well, Mozeliak said. Our hope was he would get a decent amount of at-bats, especially with [starter Tommy] Edman going to the [World Baseball Classic]. Or if it was just the natural evolution of DeJongs swing. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. I thought I was ready to take ground balls today and flared it back up, DeJong said. FRANKIE MONTAS TRADE GRADES: How did Yanks, A's fare? Try to pull the ball more. Cardinals' Paul DeJong has something to say about navigating the It could be that Edman -- who returned to camp on Wednesday when South Korea did not advance out of WBC pool play -- returns at shortstop before DeJong takes the field. We can talk about hard-hitting balls, hard contact, but you guys can look at the numbers just like we can, and hes just not getting it done in that standpoint. He went 8 for 9 in save opportunities. With 10 days remaining until the Cardinals open the regular season March 30, the team acknowledges time is running out for DeJong to heal and ramp up for Opening Day. 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. "I had faith that I would make my return," DeJong told The Sporting News after the game Friday. 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. A look at internal options for the rotation. Paul DeJong to Paul Goldschmidt. He returned in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon, batting 7th and playing shortstop to give Tommy Edman a needed day off. Unfortunately, that's not the way things worked out.. Cardinals: Paul DeJong - The Downfall We Should Have Seen Coming 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. The Cardinals would likely have to take a loss on the deal, but I didnt see any way that they would bring him back. In July, DeJong was hit with a pitch and missed a few weeks. Paul DeJong wears a mask when he is in public. But the back issue flared up Tuesday, preventing DeJong from fully bending down to field grounders. With 1.5 years left on his six-year, $26 million contract, it feels rather improbable that he sees extended time in the majors with St. Louis. St. Louis will prepare to be without DeJong for at least a couple of weeks. 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. But were not going to take someone thats having the type of season he is and just like a light switch, move him over.. That move is expected to come late Saturday night or before Sundays game. His walk rate would likely stay the same, if only because he wasnt seeing balls in the zone. But which former are we talking about? After struggling mightily immediately after his demotion, DeJong seems to have . 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. Paul Sterling DeJong (born August 2, 1993) is an American professional baseball shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB).