Infield depth has arrived.
The Detroit Tigers signed shortstop Paul DeJong on Tuesday, May 5, to a minor-league contract. The nine-year MLB veteran will earn a prorated $1 million salary if promoted to the Tigers, but for now, he has been assigned to Triple-A Toledo.
DeJong recently opted out of his minor-league contract with the New York Yankees to test the open market.
“I know Paul is a real option for us as soon as we need it, given his experience and what he can bring to a team,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Tuesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. “He was available, and it’s nice that he wants to be a Tiger.”
In 2026, DeJong – a right-handed hitter – played 23 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees’ organization.
He hit .203 with six home runs, 16 walks and 18 strikeouts, while logging 82⅓ innings at third base, 50 innings at shortstop and 26 innings at second base.
“His versatility was attractive,” Hinch said.
During his MLB career, DeJong has played for the St. Louis Cardinals (2017-23), Toronto Blue Jays (2023), San Francisco Giants (2023), Chicago White Sox (2024), Kansas City Royals (2024) and Washington Nationals (2025).
His next stop could be with the Tigers.
In 2025, DeJong hit .228 with six home runs, 11 walks (5.3% walk rate) and 70 strikeouts (33.7% strikeout rate) across 57 games for the Nationals. He registered minus-2 defensive runs saved over 68 innings at shortstop.
Along the way, DeJong missed more than two months last season after suffering multiple facial fractures, including his nose and orbital bone, in mid-April. He suffered those injuries when he was struck in the face by a fastball.
He returned in early July.
His offensive profile differs from the approach the Tigers desire.
DeJong chases pitches out of the zone, swings and misses frequently, strikes out often and rarely walks. He also doesn’t hit the ball hard, as exemplified by his below-average exit velocities, but his defense is his calling card.
“Getting Paul here certainly strengthens our depth,” Hinch said. “He’s got experience, high-character guy, hits homers, plays defense around the infield. I’m really happy that he wanted to join the organization.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers sign shortstop Paul DeJong to minor-league contract
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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