Antioch native DeJong completes triple play of a different kind as Cubs opponent
Antioch native Paul DeJong accomplished an unusual trifecta Monday. He competed against the Cubs while playing for three different teams in less than six weeks.
DeJong played in all eight Cubs-Cardinals games in late July, then was traded to Toronto on Aug. 1. So he played in the Cubs-Blue Jays series from Aug. 11-13. He was released by Toronto on Aug. 21, signed with San Francisco and is back at Wrigley Field playing for the Giants. He started Monday's game at shortstop, but was not in Tuesday's lineup.
"Yeah, it's been a wild month for me," DeJong said before the game. "Switching teams, leaving a place where I'd established roots. Things can change quickly. Just being ready for those moments, I think is the biggest thing."
DeJong, who played in college at Illinois State, spent seven seasons in St. Louis after being a fourth-round draft pick in 2015. Needless to say, leaving the Cardinals was difficult.
"I kind of grew up in St. Louis, really, spent most of my 20s there," he said. "I'm just trying to see it as a view of the business of baseball, to just understand that things change. I had a nice tenure in St. Louis, but being able to move on can also be a blessing in disguise for me. Develop more, make more relationships around the league, get different perspectives. So there's always a brighter side and that's what I'm trying to focus on now."
If it seems like DeJong hits a home run every time he plays in a series at Wrigley Field, it's because that's close to true. He has 15 career home runs on the North Side.
He lived in Orlando until the sixth grade, so he grew up rooting for the Braves and Tigers, his dad's favorite team. But his great grandmother lived on the South Side and went to Cubs games in the 1930s and '40s.
"It's super special for me, just growing up close to here in Antioch and then all my friends that are Cubs fans still text me all the time to come to the games," he said. "Getting on deck, I'll hear people in the crowd saying, 'Illinois State,' or 'Go Redbirds.' It's just a super special place for me and I always enjoy coming here."
Stroman update:
Cubs manager David Ross had limited feedback on Marcus Stroman's bullpen session in Arizona on Monday. Stroman is trying to recover from a right rib cartilage fracture.
"He'll throw another one soon," Ross said. "He's got to build up to a pretty good pitch count, start facing hitters, maybe throw some live BPs. He's got a little ways to go.
"I haven't asked if he's pain-free, but I know he's excited about the way the bullpens have gone. I would assume he's able to continue to build up and he's looking forward to getting back to pitching in games. That would tell me he's able to get after it."
Sleep deprived:
The Cubs have a strange schedule this week, with day games on Wednesday and Friday, following night games on Tuesday and Thursday. The September grind is never easy to start with.
"It's not ideal for sure," manager David Ross said. "I think part of just being a Cub is one of those things that you've got to get used to, the day game routine. Not being on the field, prepping in the cage for hitters. Little stuff like that is really important here, I think."
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