Chase De Jong Embracing New Role — And Excelling (+)
Prior to the 2022 season, Chase De Jong’s career mainly consisted of bouncing between Triple-A and the major leagues while being utilized as a starting pitcher.
In his first five seasons in the major leagues from 2017-21, De Jong spent time with the Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros and eventually the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In those five years, De Jong went 2-9 with a 6.52 ERA across 98 innings in 24 appearances, 19 of which were starts.
The right-hander made nine starts with the Pirates last year, pitching to a 1-4 record with a 5.77 ERA before a knee injury cut his season short.
Fast forward a couple months, and much has changed for the 28-year-old.
After starting the season in Triple-A Indianapolis, the Pirates recalled De Jong towards the end of April to serve as a full-time reliever — something brand new to him.
Since then, De Jong has been one of the most valuable members of the Pirates’ bullpen. In 32 games, the righty has posted an impressive 1.86 ERA and hasn’t allowed a run in his last 17.2 innings.
So, what has led to his success in this unfamiliar spot?
“Just fully embracing the role and understanding the value in being able to take the ball frequently. Being able to cover multiple innings and just going out there and attacking guys with your stuff,” De Jong said.
De Jong has been a jack-of-all-trades for manager Derek Shelton. Shelton has called De Jong’s number early in games, late in games and in both higher- and lower-leverage situations.
“I’ve totally embodied the mindset of being the multi-inning reliever, whether you need me early, you need me late, I just want to be available. It’s a cliché now cause every interview I do I call myself the Swiss Army knife, but I want to be that guy.”
Those words from De Jong certainly ring true. In all but seven of his 32 outings, the native of Long Beach, California has gotten the Pirates at least four outs.
De Jong worked a season-high four innings of relief against the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 16 and helped to preserve a bullpen that has been put to work quite a bit. Pittsburgh’s relievers have tossed 535 innings this season, fourth-most in the majors.
As the season has gone on, De Jong has more often pitched in crucial situations.
“It’s incredibly humbling and it is a confidence booster just to be viewed as that. Just to have it validated by being given the opportunity to pitch in close games in that situation I’m pretty proud of that,” he said.
One of those occurrences was Aug. 30 in Milwaukee, where De Jong picked up his first career save. Pitching with the opportunity to pick up a milestone such as your first save can understandably be nerve-wracking, but De Jong knew he needed to keep his cool.
“The emotion I try and keep it the same, I try and tell myself, ‘hey this is just like every other outing I’ve had this year.’ It’s just go efficiently get outs.”
De Jong did just that, but he was more complimentary of the defense behind him than his personal performance on the rubber.
The Pirates’ middle infield combination of shortstop Oneil Cruz and second baseman Rodolfo Castro combined to turn a dazzling double play to seal the victory and the first save for the right-hander at any level of professional baseball.
That save can be viewed as a cherry on top for his emergence at the big league level this year.
De Jong went from originally being more or less an innings eater out of the bullpen to being one of the team’s most reliable and trusted arms.
In what has been another disheartening season for the Pirates, De Jong has served as a bright spot, and certainly a pleasant surprise.
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