Chase De Jong is having an impressive year
One Pirates reliever is flying under the radar
Photo Credit: Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
For Chase De Jong, his major league career has been anything but easy. The Blue Jays drafted the 28-year-old in the second round of the 2012 MLB draft before trading him to the Dodgers three years later. He then spent some time in the Independent League before stints with the Twins, Mariners, and Astros. After a rough 2021 campaign with the Pirates, he has bounced back to be one of their best pitchers this year.
In 55.1 innings of work, De Jong has posted a 1.95 ERA. The former second-round pick has also struck out a career-high 46 batters and had an unforgettable moment on Tuesday night. In De Jong's 53rd appearance in the majors, he recorded his first career save.
Before the start of 2022, De Jong had a 2-9 record in 24 games. His first season in Pittsburgh wasn’t ideal, as, in nine games, he posted a 5.77 ERA before his season ended due to knee surgery. However, he has had better control this season and has become an essential piece of the Pirates bullpen. As the workload has increased, he has gotten better.
So far in August, opponents are only hitting .125 against the Woodrow Wilson High School product. He hasn’t allowed a run in 15 consecutive innings, and the last home run he allowed came on July 2nd. De Jong has been one of the few reliable pieces in a Pirates bullpen that has dealt with a lot of inconsistency.
As Pittsburgh continues its rebuild, they have an interesting piece in De Jong. He won’t be a free agent until 2027 and has shown the ability to fill whatever role the Pirates need. He could also be a trade candidate next season if he can sustain his performance this year.
Regardless of what the future holds, it has been an unforgettable 2022 campaign for De Jong. Opponents are currently hitting 1.74 against him, and he leads the Pirates in ERA and WHIP. He has also added two holds on his resume and could see more save opportunities in the season’s final weeks.
Although he is flying under the radar, De Jong has been one of baseball's best relievers and success stories this season.
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