Cardinals: Paul DeJong – The Downfall We Should Have Seen Coming

Paul DeJong #11 of the St. Louis Cardinals up to bat against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on April 16, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Paul DeJong #11 of the St. Louis Cardinals up to bat against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on April 16, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MAY 04: Paul DeJong #11 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates with teammates after scoring on a Nolan Arenado two-run single in the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 04, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MAY 04: Paul DeJong #11 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates with teammates after scoring on a Nolan Arenado two-run single in the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 04, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

4. Where does Paul DeJong go from here?

I cannot say I have a solution for his seemingly lack of confidence that he clearly lost the past two seasons. That is not calculable by any means, but as seen above at the root cause of his issue is he needs to regain form of solid contact through a clearer focus of driving the ball rather than lifting it. As I sit here on my couch, it is much easier said than done with a round bat and ball in the split second he has to achieve that desired result. But, maybe with one more chance in Spring of 2023 and the new voice hitting coach Turner Ward he can turn it around. Time will tell, but I do not hold my breath. In my opinion, his time in St. Louis Cardinals red seems to be over.

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