Paul DeJong

Paul Sterling DeJong Bio

Paul Sterling DeJong (born August 2, 1993) is an American professional baseball shortstop and third baseman who is currently a free agent. A native of Orlando, Florida, DeJong has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, and Washington Nationals. He made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Cardinals and quickly established himself as a power-hitting shortstop, leading National League shortstops in home runs during his rookie season. DeJong was selected as an All-Star in 2019 and has accumulated 146 career home runs across his MLB tenure.

Early Life and Background

DeJong was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, before his family relocated to Antioch, Illinois, when he was 11 years old. His parents are Keith and Andrea DeJong, and he grew up with a younger brother Matthew and a younger sister Emma. As a child, DeJong’s mother took him to play Little League games, and one of his coaches reportedly told her when Paul was just 5 years old that he would one day play in the major leagues. He grew up as an Atlanta Braves fan, inspired by the team’s success in the 1990s.

DeJong graduated from Antioch Community High School in 2011. During his senior year, he had an outstanding baseball season, batting .430 with four home runs and 30 runs batted in (RBIs), leading his team to a 21-10 record. His exceptional performance earned him All-area, All-Lake County First-Team, and All-North Suburban Conference First-Team honors. These achievements set the stage for his collegiate career at the next level.

College Career at Illinois State University

DeJong attended Illinois State University (ISU) where he majored in biochemistry with a pre-medical emphasis while playing college baseball for the Redbirds. As a freshman in 2013, he batted .260 in 100 at-bats. Between his freshman and sophomore years, DeJong dedicated himself to weight training, gaining approximately 20 pounds of muscle that significantly improved his strength and speed.

His sophomore season in 2014 proved to be a breakout year. He batted .349 (third in the Missouri Valley Conference) with 44 runs, 21 doubles (leading the conference), and nine home runs. He was named All-MVC First-Team and a unanimous MVC Scholar-Athlete First-Team selection. After the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected DeJong in the 38th round of the MLB draft as a catcher, but he did not sign and returned to Illinois State for his final season.

In 2015, DeJong continued his impressive play, batting .333 with 14 home runs (leading the conference) and 48 RBIs. He was named All-Missouri Valley Conference first team as a utility player, a Midseason All-American by D1Baseball.com, and a 2015 Capital One Academic All-American. He graduated from ISU with a degree in biochemistry with a pre-medical emphasis, maintaining a 3.74 GPA. Baseball America ranked him as the 108th-best prospect for the 2015 MLB draft.

Paul Sterling DeJong Career

St. Louis Cardinals (2017-2023)

The St. Louis Cardinals selected DeJong in the fourth round (131st overall) of the 2015 MLB draft. He signed with the Cardinals for $200,000 and made his professional debut with the Johnson City Cardinals of the Rookie-level Appalachian League. After ten games, he was promoted to the Peoria Chiefs of the Single-A Midwest League, where he combined to bat .316 with nine home runs and 41 RBIs in 66 games between the two teams.

In 2016, DeJong played for the Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Texas League and was selected as a Texas League Mid-Season All-Star. He finished the season batting .260 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs in 132 games. After the season, he was assigned to the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League, where he was named an AFL Rising Star.

To begin the 2017 season, the Cardinals assigned DeJong to the Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. In 46 games, he batted .294 with 11 home runs before his promotion to the major leagues on May 28, 2017. He made his MLB debut that same day against the Colorado Rockies and hit a home run on his first swing, becoming the ninth Cardinals player to homer in his first major league at-bat. DeJong went on to have an outstanding rookie season, batting .285 with 25 home runs and 65 RBIs, leading all National League shortstops in home runs. He placed second in the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year balloting and was named to the Baseball America Major League All-Rookie Team.

Contract Extension and All-Star Selection (2018-2019)

On March 5, 2018, DeJong agreed to a six-year contract extension with St. Louis through the 2023 season worth a guaranteed $26 million, with option years that could max out at $51.5 million. At the time, this was the largest-ever agreement with a player who had not yet completed at least one full year of major league service. He returned as the Cardinals’ starting shortstop but suffered a fractured left hand in May, requiring surgery and missing seven weeks. He finished the 2018 campaign batting .241 with 19 home runs and 68 RBIs in 115 games.

DeJong earned his first All-Star selection in 2019, representing the Cardinals at the All-Star Game in Cleveland. That season, he became the first everyday St. Louis shortstop to hit three home runs in a game when he accomplished the feat against the Pittsburgh Pirates in July. He finished the 2019 season slashing .233 with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs over 159 games. Defensively, he led all National League shortstops in fielding percentage (.989), putouts (211), and double plays turned (119), earning a nomination for his first Gold Glove Award.

Later Cardinals Tenure and Departure (2020-2023)

The shortened 2020 season saw DeJong test positive for COVID-19 in August, causing him to miss playing time. He returned later that month and finished the season hitting .250 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 45 games. In 2021, DeJong struggled with a rib fracture that landed him on the injured list in May, and his offensive struggles led to him being moved into a reserve role at points during the season. He finished with 19 home runs and 45 RBIs in 113 games.

For the 2022 season, DeJong began as the Cardinals’ starting shortstop but was demoted to Triple-A Memphis in May after batting just .130 through 24 games. He was recalled in late July following a trade of Edmundo Sosa and hit his 100th career home run in August against the New York Yankees. However, he finished the season with a disappointing .157 batting average. He began the 2023 season on the injured list and after returning, was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in August.

Toronto Blue Jays (2023)

On August 1, 2023, DeJong was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Matt Svanson. However, his time in Toronto was brief and challenging. In 13 games, DeJong struggled immensely, going just 3-for-44 (.068) with one RBI. The Blue Jays designated him for assignment on August 19, and he was released on August 21.

San Francisco Giants (2023)

Immediately after his release from Toronto, the San Francisco Giants claimed DeJong off waivers on August 22, 2023, signing him to a major league contract. The Giants had previously attempted to acquire him before he was sent to Toronto. DeJong made his debut for the Giants on August 23 against the Philadelphia Phillies and had a strong first game, going 3-for-5 with four RBIs. Overall, he appeared in 18 games for San Francisco, batting .184 with one home run and five RBIs. The Giants released him in September.

Chicago White Sox (2024)

On November 28, 2023, DeJong signed a one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox for $1.75 million. He played 102 games for Chicago in 2024, batting .228 with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs. In late July, the White Sox traded him to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for pitcher Jarold Rosado.

Kansas City Royals (2024)

DeJong joined the Kansas City Royals on July 30, 2024, and appeared in 37 games for his new team. He batted .222 with six home runs and 15 RBIs during his time with the Royals. Combined between the White Sox and Royals in 2024, he played 139 games with 24 home runs and 56 RBIs overall.

Washington Nationals (2025)

On February 16, 2025, DeJong signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals worth $1 million, with performance incentives that could increase the value by an additional $600,000. However, his 2025 season was interrupted by a significant injury. On April 15, DeJong was struck in the face by a 93 mph fastball from Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller, suffering severe injuries. He underwent surgery to repair his nose and cheekbone, with a plate surgically implanted below one eye. After a 2-and-a-half-month recovery, DeJong returned to play on July 2 and hit his first home run of the season the following day in an 11-7 win against the Detroit Tigers. He made 57 total appearances for Washington, slashing .228 with six home runs, 23 RBIs, and four stolen bases.

New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers (2026)

On January 4, 2026, DeJong signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. He made 23 appearances for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, batting .203 with six home runs and 13 RBIs. He opted out of his contract on May 1 and became a free agent. On May 5, he signed with the Detroit Tigers but appeared in only six games for Triple-A Toledo before suffering a hamstring injury that required season-ending surgery. He was released by the Tigers organization on May 25, 2026.

Paul Sterling DeJong Career Wins

DeJong has established himself as a power-hitting infielder throughout his MLB career, accumulating 146 career home runs and 423 RBIs across his nine-plus seasons. His most productive seasons came with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he served as their primary shortstop from 2017 through 2023.

St. Louis Cardinals Highlights

DeJong’s best years came during his tenure with the Cardinals. His rookie season in 2017 was exceptional, as he hit 25 home runs to lead all National League shortstops while batting .285 with 65 RBIs. His debut game performance, hitting a home run on his very first major league at-bat, remains one of the most memorable debuts in Cardinals history. In 2019, he was selected to the All-Star Game and set a franchise record as the first everyday shortstop to hit three home runs in a single game. He finished that season with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs while leading all National League shortstops in fielding percentage, putouts, and double plays.

Throughout his Cardinals career, DeJong demonstrated consistent power at the plate and excellence at shortstop, earning recognition as one of the better defensive shortstops in the National League during his prime years. His six-year, $26 million contract extension in 2018 reflected the organization’s confidence in his abilities.

Other Career Performances

After leaving the Cardinals, DeJong served as a role player for multiple organizations. His most complete recent season came in 2024, when he combined to hit 24 home runs and 56 RBIs between the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals. His ability to play both shortstop and third base provided versatility to each team he joined.

Paul Sterling DeJong Family

Family Background and Personal Life

DeJong was born to Keith and Andrea DeJong in Orlando, Florida. His family later relocated to Antioch, Illinois, when he was 11 years old. He has a younger brother named Matthew and a younger sister named Emma. DeJong currently resides in Riviera Beach, Florida. His father Keith and mother Andrea supported his baseball ambitions from a young age, with his mother taking him to Little League games and witnessing his natural talent even as a young child.

DeJong graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in biochemistry with a pre-medical emphasis, maintaining an impressive 3.74 GPA. He originally planned to attend medical school if his professional baseball career did not work out, demonstrating his academic dedication alongside his athletic pursuits. In recognition of his financial support of Redbird Athletics and the university, Illinois State University announced in 2022 that its baseball hitting facility would be named the Paul DeJong Baseball Training Facility.

Academic and Scientific Interests

Beyond his baseball career, DeJong has demonstrated interests in science and research. After the 2017 season, he participated in a scientific study as a laboratory assistant with Lawrence Rocks exploring the effects of differing temperatures on the flight path of baseballs. DeJong and Rocks also appeared together on MLB Now at the 2017 winter meetings, showcasing his intellectual curiosity beyond the diamond.

2025 Season Performance

DeJong’s 2025 season with the Washington Nationals was significantly impacted by a traumatic injury. On April 15, he was struck in the face by a 93 mph fastball from Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller during a game. The incident resulted in severe facial injuries that required surgical repair of his nose and cheekbone, including the implantation of a plate below one eye. The injury caused him to miss approximately two and a half months of the season.

DeJong made his return to action on July 2, 2025, and wasted no time making an impact. The following day, he hit his first home run of the season in an 11-7 victory against the Detroit Tigers. Despite the lengthy absence and recovery period, he managed to appear in 57 games for the Nationals, demonstrating his resilience and determination to return to the field.

For the season, DeJong finished with a batting line of .228/.269/.373, adding six home runs, 23 RBIs, and four stolen bases in his 57 appearances. While the offensive numbers were modest compared to his peak years, his ability to recover from such a significant injury and contribute to his team spoke to his character and work ethic. The Nationals valued his veteran presence and defensive versatility at both shortstop and third base as they continued their rebuilding efforts.