San Francisco Giants infielder Paul DeJong. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Playing for third team in last 30 days, Giants SS has memorable debut

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 8/24/23

Starting his 2023 season at Triple-A in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, shortstop Paul DeJong has had a wild year. The 2019 All-Star hit his way back onto the major league roster after a hot month of April and ended up playing in 81 games with 13 home runs and 32 RBI for the Cardinals this season.

After being dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline he would only last 13 games for them, getting designated for assignment partly due to his poor play when Bo Bichette was activated from the injured list.

Signed to the Giants' active roster on Wednesday, DeJong wasted no time making an impact in his new uniform launching a two-run home run to left field off of Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Michael Lorenzen in the top of the fourth inning.

PAUL DEJONG WELCOME TO THE GIANTS‼️ pic.twitter.com/wLpriHeiMY
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 23, 2023

He would add a single in the sixth inning but would save his biggest contribution for last.

With bases loaded in the top of the 10th inning, DeJong would lace a single into the left-center gap allowing two runners to score and giving his new team a 7-5 lead that would ultimately be the game-winner with the Giants winning 8-6 in extra innings.

PAUL DEJONG PAUL DEJONG PAUL DEJONG pic.twitter.com/8dmGATMrms
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 23, 2023

After struggling with the Blue Jays recording three hits in his 13 games, DeJong put up three in his first game as a member of the Giants.

At 30, DeJong has shown he has the ability to play solid defense while supplying power at the shortstop position and has 14 games worth of postseason experience.

Only under contract for the rest of the 2023 season, this will be a good stretch of baseball for DeJong to showcase himself to the Giants and the rest of the MLB as he enters free agency for the first time in his career.

Not only would you be getting a solid player, you would be getting an even better human being.

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