GLENDALE, Ariz. — Shortstop Paul DeJong looked forward to a clean slate, a fresh environment and a new team when he signed with the White Sox for the affordable price of $1.75 million in November.
Two weeks into spring training, his first in Arizona after training in Florida with the Cardinals from 2017 to 2023, DeJong is getting acclimated to the nuances of the desert air, to finding his way around, and he’s getting what he wanted.
“Just having a place to start at the beginning of the year is nice, not having to jump in during the middle of the season,” DeJong, 30, said. “So far, so good. It’s an energetic group. We’ve all jelled a lot in this first week or so.
“We have a lot of guys with a lot of experience from different organizations, putting our heads together on certain ways we want to handle business, the way we want to play on the field. The results have been [there] — maybe not in the scorebook always — but our defense has been good, and we’re taking good at-bats. We’re right where we want to be.”
After a few years of trying to regain the fleeting offensive production he supplied in his first three seasons, including 2017, when he was second to unanimous selection Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers in National League Rookie of the Year voting, DeJong wants to be in a better place at the plate.
For him, that will start with a new mentality to his work after he said he lost himself overanalyzing video. That’s going to happen when you bat .197/.284/.390 in 2021 and .157/.245/.286 in 2022 as DeJong did after he averaged .251/.318/.467 with 25 home runs, 27 doubles and 70 RBI in his first three seasons in St. Louis.
“You can really start micromanaging your body, and I just want to be an athlete out there,” he said.
On the physical side of hitting, DeJong, who homered against the Dodgers on Tuesday and singled in three plate appearances against the Mariners on Thursday, said he feels “pretty good” right now.
“Just trying to get my fastball timing down, being able to be on time and drive the ball,” he said. “After that [as Opening Day gradually draws nearer], it starts to become about competition, winning games, winning situations, getting guys on and doing whatever the situation calls for.”
For now, it’s about his thought process, toning down his attack mode for a more balanced mindset.
“Just controlling my mental approach as far as my intent to go do damage,” he said. “Being so intent on hitting the ball and jumping at it can give me problems. So it’s a combination of being ready to hit but also letting the ball come to me.”
Perhaps hitting a home run against the Dodgers’ Michael Grove at Camelback Ranch is an example.
“It was good to get one like that,” he said.
Hanging sliders get missed, fouled off or taken for strikes, and DeJong, as he said, did what he had to do with that one. Consider it a small win in February.
“Just hit something hard to the outfield, and it just went,” he said.
The Sox know they’ll get steady defense from DeJong. He also brings a calm, steady presence and character to the clubhouse.
“Consistency. Smart, smart guy on and off the field, character,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “Worker. Professional.”
DeJong knows the game’s highs and lows. He played for three teams last season and was traded to the Blue Jays at the deadline only to be released three weeks later. He signed with the Giants on Aug. 23 and was released again less than a month after that. He batted only .207/.258/.355 (.612 OPS).
“The game will humble you quickly,” he said. “It’s a testament to the guys who’ve played it so long, how difficult that is and how intense you have to be mentally and physically to succeed. Really an eye-opener, lessons for me to really dial in my game to where I want to be.”
