Pittsburgh Pirates: Chase De Jong Emerging As Intriguing Arm

Signed as a minor league free agent this past offseason former top prospect Chase De Jong has emerged as an intriguing arm for the Pittsburgh Pirates

On January 5, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed right-handed pitcher Chase De Jong to a minor league contract. This minor league contract included an invited to MLB camp. Thus far in MLB camp, De Jong has emerged as an intriguing arm for the Pirates.

At one time De Jong was a highly touted prospect with the Los Angeles Dodgers. While things never worked out for De Jong in Los Angeles, things appear to be trending upward for him with the Pittsburgh Pirates in what may be a last chance for the righty.

De Jong has pitched 54.1 innings in 15 MLB games, 10 of which were starts. In these 54.1 innings pitched De Jong owns a 7.12 ERA, 6.00 FIP, 1.82 HR/9, 10.6% walk rate and a 14.2% strikeout rate. These 54.1 innings have come across the past four seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros.

So far this spring, De Jong has looked like a different pitcher. Driven by a fastball with an insane spin rate, De Jong has allowed 1 earned runs in 8.0 innings pitched. These 8.0 innings have come in three games, including one start.

De Jong has walked three batters and struck out a trio so far this spring. He has not allowed a home run, to go with allowing just six hits. De Jong has also hit a batter during Grapefruit League play.

While De Jong will likely start the season remaining stretched out at ht alternate training site before moving to the starting rotation with Triple-A Indianapolis when the minor league season begins, he is an intriguing arm to watch.

A big reason De Jong chose to sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates this past offseason was his ties to the organization. Pirate manager Derek Shelton was the bench coach with the Twins in 2018 and 2019 when De Jong was there. Additionally, Pirate pitching coach Oscar Marin was a minor league pitching coordinator with the Mariners when De Jong was in the organization.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and De Jong marriage is one that may prove to benefit both sides. De Jong looks like a pitcher who may finally tap into their untapped potential, while the Pirates could find themselves with a diamond in the rough find as a result.

De Jong spent much of the 2020 season refining his stuff at the alternate training site of the Astros. While he struggled with the Astros in his three MLB outings in 2020, the team did think highly enough of De Jong to add him to ther ALCS roster last season.

It would not be a surprise to see De Jong work his way onto the Pirate roster this season. Rather it be as a starting pitcher, a reliever or a bit of both, De Jong will be a name that Pirate fans should be monitoring this season.