Pitcher Chase De Jong Hoping For Opportunity After Signing Minor League Deal With Pirates
Every off-season, teams add several Minor League free agents to add depth to their system and create some competition in Spring Training. The Pittsburgh Pirates made one of these types of moves on Wednesday when they signed right-handed pitcher Chase De Jong to a Minor League contract that includes an invite to Spring Training. For De Jong, it is a chance for the 27-year-old to finally break in full-time at the Big League level. Since making his Major League debut back in 2016, De Jong has pitched for three different organizations in the span of four seasons. In each of those seasons, De Jong has not appeared in more than seven games and has made just 15 appearances throughout his career.
However, at 27-years-old, there is still time for the young righty to develop into an everyday pitcher. He is hoping to get his shot with the Pirates and prove that he can be that everyday guy. With a bullpen that is full of uncertainty for the 2021 season, a strong showing in Spring Training could go a long way for De Jong's future. He isn't a flamethrower by any means, with a fastball that averages around 93 miles per hour, but he is able to change speeds effectively with four off-speed pitches in his arsenal that average 10 miles per hour slower than his fastball. Today, we will meet the newest Pirate and see how he fits into the team moving forward.
A Journeyman Form a Young Age
At 27-years-old, De Jong has already taken a nice journey around the MLB. By signing his Minor League contract with the Pirates, De Jong will be joining his sixth organization in the last eight years. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round of the 2012 MLB draft out of Woodrow Wilson HS. He had success as a reliever right off the bat, posting a 1.50 ERA in six games in rookie ball with the Blue Jays, but as they transitioned him to a starter, things went downhill and his ERA went up to 4.82 in 23 starts in Low-A ball. By 2015, the Blue Jays essentially gave up on De Jong, trading him to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with another prospect for international poll money.
He would move pitch between Double-A and Triple-A for the Dodgers in 2015 and showed he could be a successful starter. Between the two levels, De Jong made 26 starts and went 15-5 with a 2.82 ERA while walking 40 and striking out 133. However, in the off-season, De Jong was on the move again as the Dodgers traded him to the Seattle Mariners. It was here that he finally got his chance in the Big Leagues as a spot starter. He appeared in seven games, four starts, during the 2017 season and went 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA in 28.1 innings of work. However, the Mariners weren't impressed either as they traded him to Minnesota in the Zach Duke deal.
2018 would prove to be his most successful big-league run, as he made four starts and went 1-1 with a respectable 3.57 ERA. In 17.2 innings of work, he walked six batters and allowed 18 hits, but was able to work his way out of jams and keep his team in the game. De Jong was rewarded with an early call-up in 2019, but his one appearance was a wasted opportunity. He lasted just one inning in his only appearance and gave up four runs on three hits with the big blow being a grand slam. He was then sent down to the Minor Leagues and suffered a quad injury that essentially ended his season. De Jong would end up being picked up by the Houston Astros in 2020 and made three appearances, two starts, with similar results as he went 0-1 with a 14.73 ERA. He was released by the Astros after the season and elected free agency which brought him to Pittsburgh.
How De Jong Fits Into The Future
Every year, teams make several Minor League free agent signings to create competition and bolster their depth. In the Pirates case, this looks like purely a depth move in case of injuries. Last season, the Pirates were forced to bring up some prospects earlier than they wanted to and they don't want to be put in that situation again. De Jong has shown patches of success both at the Major League and Minor League level, but his main issue is that his control and his ability to miss bats have hurt him. Over his first four seasons in the Big Leagues, De Jong has a walk percentage of 10.5% and has allowed 10.6 hits per nine innings. He isn't missing bats very often and that has been getting him in trouble on the mound.
Last season, De Jong lowered his hard-hit percentage to 25%, the lowest of his young Major League Career, while walking 10.5% of his hitters. De Jong doesn't get in trouble with extra-base hits, but the sheer amount of hits he gives up digs him his own grave. In 2020, De Jong gave up a total of 12 hits and only two of them went for extra-bases, unfortunately, both of those went over the wall. Because his velocity is not very high, he has to rely on his location and that has gotten him in trouble. His fastball reaches an average of 93 miles per hour, but his best two pitches are his curveball and slider. His slider averages 85 miles per hour while his curveball comes in considerably lower at 77 miles per hour. Both are turning into his out pitches and have put away percentages of 33.3 and 45.3% respectively while getting better to swing and miss 53.3% and 65.3% of the time respectively.
As for how De Jong fits into the 2021 Pirates, he will most likely be used as a depth piece in case of injury. With so many young guys ready to make a splash in the bullpen, I don't see De Jong making it there, and barring any major moves to the starting rotation those five slots are set. He will more likely than not start the year in Triple-A Indianapolis as a member of the starting rotation. As it shakes up now, the Indian's rotation will more than likely have Cody Ponce, Cam Vieaux, James Marvel, Jeffery Passantino, and Chase De Jong. Three of those pitchers have Major League experience, giving the Pirates options if someone gets hurt. De Jong is looking to revitalize his young career in Pittsburgh, and he will have to work from the ground up to get back to the Major Leagues.
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