Paul DeJong stayed in the Yankees organization and kept his minor league deal intact, then went to work for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on April 21 with a fifth home run and an RBI single in the RailRiders' 4-1 lead. The 2019 All-Star is now batting.193 with five home runs, 11 RBI's and seven runs in 20 games.
DeJong had no intention of opting out of the deal on March 19, choosing instead to try to make the team or at least begin the season at AAA. That left him in position to keep building after he did not make the Yankees out of spring training.
The move fits the path he has taken since the Cardinals drafted him in the fourth round of the 2015 MLB Draft. DeJong spent the first six and a half seasons of his career in St. Louis, then moved through Toronto, San Francisco, Kansas City, Washington and Chicago before landing with the RailRiders.
The numbers show why the Yankees could still have reason to watch him. DeJong owns a career.229 average with 146 home runs and 423 RBI's in 925 games, and New York entered April 21 in first place in the American League East at 18-9 through 27 games. For now, he remains a veteran depth option trying to turn a slow start into a longer look.
