When the first inning of Paul DeJong’s major league debut rolled around on May 28, 2017, the 23-year-old shortstop wasn’t even in the stadium.
The Cardinals called DeJong up from Triple-A Memphis earlier that day to fill the roster spot vacated by Kolten Wong, who was placed on the disabled list with elbow discomfort. DeJong had been playing second base, shortstop, and third base for Memphis while batting .294.
“A kid who no matter where you put him, he’s quick to make adjustments,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “He’s done a great job at shortstop. He’s ready to jump in. It just seems like he’s ready.”[1]
DeJong’s flight from Memphis was delayed by weather and he had to switch airlines, delaying his arrival at Coors Field until the middle innings. The Cardinals gave DeJong a No. 11 jersey, making him the first St. Louis player to wear the double ones since Jose Oquendo.[2]
The Cardinals entered the game against the Rockies with a 24-22 record, half a game behind the Brewers in the National League Central. The Rockies, meanwhile, were off to a 32-19 start and led the competitive National League West by a game.
Rookie right-hander German Marquez took the mound for the Rockies and looked sharp early, throwing five scoreless innings to start the game.
Lance Lynn took the hill for the Cardinals. Through his first nine starts of the season, Lynn was 4-2 with a 2.53 ERA. This, however, was not one of his better outings on the season, as Rockies right fielder Gerardo Parra launched a three-run home run in the fourth inning to give Colorado a 4-0 lead.
“The pitch to Parra didn’t move as much as I would like,” Lynn said. “It spun a little bit on me, and he put a good swing on it.”[3]
The Cardinals rallied with solo home runs from Jedd Gyorko and Greg Garcia in the fourth inning. Tommy Pham homered to center in the seventh to cut the Rockies’ lead to 4-3.
After two innings of scoreless relief from Tyler Lyons, the Cardinals turned to Matt Bowman in the eighth, but the young reliever allowed RBI singles by Mark Reynolds and Tony Wolters and a sacrifice fly by Carlos Gonzalez.
Heading into the ninth inning, the Rockies held an 8-3 lead. With Greg Holland on the mound, the Cardinals called on DeJong to bat for relief pitcher John Brebbia, who also was making his major-league debut. After taking the first pitch for a ball, DeJong hit a high, arcing home run over the left-field wall.
“It’s pretty incredible and hard to even put into words,” said DeJong, who was then interrupted by Cardinals traveling secretary C.J. Cherre, who handed him a white box with the date and location printed on it. When Cherre told him it was for his parents, DeJong opened it. Inside sat the home run ball.[4]
“I tried to treat it like any other at-bat,” DeJong said. “I kept watching it where it would go, and it kept going. I didn’t know if it was too high. Big-league baseball. Big-league stadium. Colorado. Balls flying all day. I guess I just got it up there.”
Holland retired the next three batters he faced to finish the game.
Afterwards, Matheny spoke about the Cardinals’ recent roster moves, which included the additions of Lyons, Brebbia, and DeJong.
“The moves are, yeah, let’s go get some guys who we think can jump in here and contribute and, look, in the first at-bat (DeJong) did,” Matheny said. “He’s going to get an opportunity. I still feel like we have some depth, but I don’t think this is a case of, ‘Let’s go get a bunch of new guys and bring them in here.’ Situations have presented themselves that we had to act on.”[5]
“Wherever they want to use me, however, I’ll be ready,” DeJong said.[6]
He would indeed. DeJong not only wrested the starting shortstop position from Diaz, but finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year vote behind the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger. In 108 games, DeJong hit .285 with 25 homers, 65 RBIs, and an .857 OPS.
“Twenty-five home runs at 24 years old – and then you add 13 to it (from the minors),” Matheny said after the season. “That’s rare air for a seasoned veteran, right?”[7]
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[1] Derrick Goold, “Cardinals put Wong on disabled list,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 29, 2017.
[2] Derrick Goold, “Cardinals put Wong on disabled list,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 29, 2017.
[3] The Associated Press, “Rockies stay steady, take series from Cards,” Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, May 29, 2017.
[4] Derrick Goold, “Jolt comes a little late,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 29, 2017.
[5] Derrick Goold, “Jolt comes a little late,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 29, 2017.
[6] Derrick Goold, “Cardinals put Wong on disabled list,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 29, 2017.
[7] Benjamin Hochman, “DeJong is rare weapon at shortstop,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 9, 2017.