Antioch grad thrilled to be back at Wrigley with Cardinals
It's been quite a week for Paul DeJong.
The 2011 graduate of Antioch High School made his major-league debut last Sunday for the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field in Denver, and all he did was hit a home run in his first at-bat, on his first swing.
This weekend, the 23-year-old DeJong is back home, playing for the Cardinals against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He made his Wrigley debut Friday before a host of friends and family.
"It was pretty amazing to be on the field," he said before Saturday's game. "I've seen plenty of games here in the stands. It's a fun environment. I was really looking forward to getting out there on the field and seeing it from that perspective. It was everything I could have imagined.
"I had quite a few former teammates and friends show up, also my parents and grandparents. It's been a steady stream of family and friends who have supported me these first few days. It's just been great to see everybody."
DeJong, a fourth-round (131st overall selection) draft pick of the Cardinals in 2015, played his college ball at Illinois State. He led the Missouri Valley Conference with 14 home runs in 2015.
The Cardinals purchased his contract from Class AAA Memphis last Sunday, and it was all he could do to get to Coors Field.
There was a flight from Memphis, a connection in Detroit and on to Denver.
"Took a cab from the airport to the field," he said. "Got my uniform on and went right to the dugout."
DeJong is glad he made it. As a pinch hitter, he homered on his first swing against Greg Holland. He became the ninth Cardinals player to homer in his first major-league at-bat.
"It was of those days where I didn't even know if I was going to make it to the ballpark on time with my crazy flights," he said. "I was too tired to even think. So I just walked up there like it was any other at-bat. Just got a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it. But yeah, running around the bases, it was amazing, surreal."
While at Memphis, DeJong played shortstop, second base and third base. He started at second base Friday and Saturday against the Cubs. So far, he is 7-for-23 (.304) at the plate.
As for his Antioch days, he says he remembers them fondly.
"Absolutely," he said. "I still keep in touch with a few friends. It's all part of my journey to get here. I have baseball factored in there. Growing up near the Cubs, I get the culture, and I understand how passionate these fans are. I kind of see the same thing on the St. Louis side now with how passionate the fans are. Just a great rivalry, and I'm excited to play today.
"One of my big goals in life was to make it to the big leagues. Now that the goal has been achieved, my next goal is to stay. I'm always working toward something whether it's getting here or staying here. It's really just about continuing to develop and continue to climb that ladder of success."