ST. LOUIS - July 14 will mark the playing of the 96th Major League Baseball All-Star Game. One of the more recent selections for St. Louis was an Illinois State University graduate.
Paul DeJong, who earned a degree from ISU in 2015, played in the All-Star Game in 2019, a highlight in his seven seasons with the Cardinals.
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DeJong is one of three former Illinois State alumni who have played in the All-Star Game. The late Buzz Capra appeared in the game for Atlanta in 1974, while Dan Kolb was a selection for Milwaukee in 2004.
Born in Orlando, Fla., DeJong grew up in Antioch, Ill., north of Chicago, and was a preferred walk-on at Illinois State. There, he became a versatile superstar, playing anywhere he was needed. As a sophomore in 2014, he saw action at four different positions: second base (34 games), third base (19 games), catcher (six games) and shortstop (two games).
After a .320 season as a freshman, DeJong improved to .349 as a sophomore and finished in the top six in the Missouri Valley Conference in batting average, slugging average, runs, doubles, triples, home runs, and RBI. He earned both first-team all-MVC and first-team MVC Scholar-Athlete honors.
Entering 2015, he was a preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball and the National College Baseball Writers Association. DeJong lived up to the hype, batting .333 while leading ISU in hits, runs, doubles, home runs (with an MVC-high 14), and RBI. Again, he was versatile, seeing time at second base, third base, catcher, right field, and designated hitter.
His spectacular season helped him earn first-team all-MVC honors, all-Midwest Region honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association, and Capital One Academic All-American recognition. DeJong earned degree in biochemistry with a pre-med emphasis from ISU in 2015, graduating with a 3.74 grade-point average.
After parts of three seasons in the St. Louis minor league system, DeJong made his MLB debut on May 28, 2017 in a big way. Entering the game as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning of a game in Colorado, DeJong hammered a pitch 399 feet into the left field stands for a home run in his first major-league at-bat.
He continued his hot start as he became the starting shortstop in St. Louis, and was named N.L. Rookie of the Month for July. During a three-game series in New York from July 7-9, DeJong recorded seven extra-base hits, the first rookie in MLB history to accomplish the feat.
DeJong finished the 2017 campaign at .285 with 25 homers and 65 RBI. He was runner-up in the N.L. Rookie of the Year voting.
He followed in 2018 with 19 home runs despite missing seven weeks with a fractured hand. DeJong then had a breakout season in 2019, and was selected as a reserve for the National League in the All-Star Game at Cleveland.
He drew a walk in his only at-bat in the All-Star Game, in the eighth inning, and had a stolen base. DeJong also handled two fielding chances as the N.L. lost 4-3. Fifteen days later, DeJong blasted three home runs as St. Louis won 14-8 at Pittsburgh.
DeJong finished the 2019 season with 30 homers and 79 RBI. He remained in St. Louis until a trade to Toronto on Aug. 1, 2023.
He has since played in the majors for four teams. DeJong, who belted 24 home runs while splitting time with the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City in 2024, suffered major facial injuries after being hit by a pitch while playing for Washington on April 15, 2025.
Since leaving ISU, DeJong has been active, and generous, in his support of Redbird athletics. In 2022, the Illinois State baseball program renamed its hitting facility the Paul DeJong Baseball Training Facility.
Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville, Ill. He may be reached at 217-710-8392 or ilcivilwar@yahoo.com
