Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Sleeper hitters for Week 20 (Aug. 15-21)
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DeJong has come back from the minors looking like a changed player and, between the majors and minors, has homered 10 times in his past 23 games. He'll get to tee off against pitchers like Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela, Tommy Henry and Madison Bumgarner this week.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Posts four hits in win
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DeJong went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles, one RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 9-5 win over the Rockies.
DeJong wasn't able to hit one out for a third straight game, but he was still a productive part of the offense. He's batting .333 since his callup July 30, with four homers, 13 RBI, eight runs scored and five doubles across 10 games in that span. He's solidified a near-everyday role at shortstop again, and the productivity should be enough to get him back on the fantasy radar.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Possible waiver wire pickups
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After he lost his job to Brendan Donovan following a 10-for-77 start to the year (and not such great numbers last year either), it seems like DeJong can do no wrong now. The former Rookie of the Year runner-up went 4 for 5 with two doubles Wednesday, making him 11 for 33 (.333) with four homers and five doubles in 10 games since returning from the minors. Factor in his strong finish there, and he now has 10 homers in 19 games. Your skepticism is understandable, but shortstop is a difficult position to fill off the waiver wire (because most of its full-timers are rostered already). We are talking about a former 30-homer guy, so if you do have that tricky spot to fill, it doesn't hurt to roll the dice and see what turns up.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Two-run homer in blowout loss
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DeJong went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a hit-by-pitch in Tuesday's 16-5 loss to the Rockies.
DeJong has accumulated four of his five homers this season in nine games since he was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, his fifth-inning blast was too late to make a real impact in a brutal blowout loss. The shortstop is still slashing a meager .162/.262/.362 while adding 19 RBI, 12 runs scored and three stolen bases through 122 plate appearances, but his recent show of power is encouraging.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Possible waiver wire pickups
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It's hard to say exactly what's different for DeJong after his three-month banishment to Triple-A. The 29-year-old himself says he has more confidence now. His manager, Oliver Marmol, says he's taking what the pitcher gives him and no longer trying to pull everything. These are the typical explanations for why a player is going well, and I'm not particularly compelled by them. Nonetheless, DeJong has three home runs and three doubles in eight games since returning. He's also walked six times during that stretch. Factor in his minor-league numbers, and he has nine home runs in his past 17 games. He's been a Fantasy mainstay before -- as recently as 2019, in fact -- so it wouldn't be a total stretch to see him regain that form, even if no one's offering much of an explanation for it.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Two extra-base hits Sunday
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DeJong went 2-for-3 with one double, one homer, four RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's win over the Yankees.
After hitting just .182 in his first seven games back from Triple-A, DeJong showed up in big fashion Sunday. With a home run, a double, and seven combined runs and RBI, DeJong finally showed a glimpse of the 2019 self who mashed 30 home runs. The shortstop slugged .552 in Triple-A over 51 games this season, so it is possible he has regained his form and could provide decent power for the Cardinals down the stretch.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Regains hold of regular role
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DeJong will start at shortstop and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Cubs, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
DeJong will pick up his fourth start in as many games and looks to have settled back in as the Cardinals' primary shortstop following his recent promotion from Triple-A Memphis. Since returning from an extended stay in the minors to get right at the plate, DeJong has gone 2-for-11 with two home runs and four RBI for St. Louis.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Goes deep again Sunday
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DeJong went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Nationals.
DeJong has carried over his power from Triple-A Memphis, homering in both games since he was recalled to the Cardinals. He's also started twice at shortstop. The 29-year-old is up to three long balls, 11 RBI, eight runs scored, three stolen bases and a .143/.213/.286 slash line through 94 plate appearances, though it appears his time in the minors has at least partially helped him get back on track.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Homers in return to majors
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DeJong went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Nationals.
Following the Cardinals' trade of Edmundo Sosa to the Phillies on Saturday, DeJong was called up and immediately inserted into the lineup. DeJong went yard in the fifth inning and added a sac fly in the eighth, though his three RBI weren't enough to push St. Louis to victory. The shortstop spent over two months in the minors, where he displayed solid power with 17 long balls and an .865 OPS despite batting .249 across 51 games with Triple-A Memphis. The righty-hitting 28-year-old started versus a right-handed pitcher (Paolo Espino), so there could be a chance for him to grab a starting role in the final two months of the season. Tommy Edman has been playing shortstop often lately, though he could move back to second base and push Nolan Gorman to the designated hitter spot if DeJong commands more playing time.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Recalled by Cardinals
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DeJong was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.
DeJong has been in the minors since May 10, and he slashed .249/.313/.552 with 17 home runs, 54 RBI, 36 runs and a stolen base over 51 games in Memphis. The 28-year-old will rejoin the active roster after Edmundo Sosa was traded to the Phillies on Saturday.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Likely to rejoin Cardinals
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DeJong will be on the taxi squad and could rejoin the Cardinals' active roster for their weekend series against Washington, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
DeJong was demoted to Triple-A Memphis on May 10, with Tommy Edman taking over as the team's primary shortstop. DeJong has shown plenty of pop with Memphis, racking up 17 home runs while maintaining a .552 slugging percentage across 230 plate appearances. It's unclear what his role may be upon his return to St. Louis, but DeJong could vie for playing time at shortstop and designated hitter.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Named Player of the Week
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DeJong was named the International League Player of the Week on Tuesday.
DeJong returned from a hand injury last Tuesday and hit .364 with three home runs, 11 RBI and seven runs scored in six games. The shortstop is up to 14 homers and 17 RBI in 46 games with Triple-A Memphis. He's batting .236, but an .811 OPS shows he's been able to flex some power since he was sent down in May. A little more consistency with the bat could get the 28-year-old a look for a promotion later in the summer if the Cardinals need infield depth.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Rejoins Triple-A lineup
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DeJong (hand) will be available Tuesday for Triple-A Memphis' game against Nashville, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Though he was never placed on Memphis' 7-day injured list, DeJong hasn't played since June 29 after he was struck on the hand by a pitch. Since his demotion to the minors back on May 10, DeJong is slashing .219/.268/.475 over 179 plate appearances for Memphis. He's been showcasing a good deal of power in the minors, but DeJong doesn't appear primed for a call-up anytime soon.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Leaves after HBP
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DeJong exited Wednesday's game with Triple-A Memphis after being hit by a pitch on the hand, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
DeJong has been at Memphis since being demoted May 10, and he has a .219/.264/.475 slash line with 11 home runs and 36 RBI in 39 games. He should be considered day-to-day since the specifics of the injury remain unclear.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Demoted amid season-long slump
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The Cardinals optioned DeJong to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Since slugging a career-high 30 home runs in 2019 and earning an All-Star nod, DeJong hasn't come close to replicating that performance in the two-plus seasons that have followed. He was off to an especially brutal start to the 2022 campaign, having slashed just .130/.209/.208 with a career-worst 29.1 percent strikeout rate. The Cardinals will send DeJong down to Memphis with the hope that he finds his swing and recaptures some confidence at the plate, but at least for now, his time as the big club's everyday shortstop is over. Tommy Edman is expected to slide over from second base to play shortstop in the short term, while Brendan Donovan will be first in line to get a look as St. Louis' primary option at the keystone.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Notches steal Wednesday
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DeJong went 0-for-2 with a walk, an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 10-0 win over the Royals.
DeJong is now 0-for-8 over his last three games, but he was able to do provide some value Wednesday despite not recording a hit. He walked, stole second and scored in the seventh inning before adding a sacrifice fly in the eighth. The shortstop still owns a lackluster .127/.222/.222 slash line with one home runs, three stolen bases, five RBI and six runs scored through 72 plate appearances. Utility man Brendan Donovan could challenge DeJong for playing time while Edmundo Sosa (illness) is on the COVID-19 injured list.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Not in Saturday's lineup
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DeJong isn't starting Saturday against Arizona.
DeJong started in the last four games and went 2-for-15 with a run and five strikeouts. Edmundo Sosa will start at shortstop and bat ninth.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Remains out of lineup
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DeJong isn't starting Monday's game against the Mets, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
DeJong has gone 0-for-9 with a walk and six strikeouts in his last three appearances, and he'll be out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games. Edmundo Sosa will start at shortstop and bat seventh.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Not starting Sunday
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DeJong is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
DeJong is 2-for-23 with 10 strikeouts in his past eight contests and will take a seat for the second time in the past three games. Edmundo Sosa will start at shortstop Sunday and could receive more opportunities if DeJong continues to struggle offensively. According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, DeJong also won't start Monday against Max Scherzer and the Mets as he attempts to make some mechanical adjustments to his swing.
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Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Gets breather Friday
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DeJong isn't in the lineup Friday against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
DeJong started the last five games and went 2-for-16 with a double, two RBI, two stolen bases, a run, two walks and five strikeouts. Edmundo Sosa will take his place at shortstop and bat eighth.
