CHASE DE JONG NEWS

Enters free agency De Jong elected to become a free agent Wednesday.

Impact De Jong appeared in six games for the Pirates in 2023, giving up 17 runs over 11.1 frames. Fortunately, he found more success in the minors with a 3.73 ERA and 1.70 WHIP, but he's unlikely to get more than a minor-league deal elsewhere given his rough MLB stats.

OCTOBER 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Outrighted to Triple-A De Jong cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

Impact He has the ability to decline the outright assignment and elect free agency if he wants. De Jong holds a 13.50 ERA over six relief appearances with the big club this season.

JUNE 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment The Pirates designated De Jong for assignment Friday.

Impact Less than a week after selecting De Jong's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis, the Pirates will once again place the 29-year-old reliever on waivers. De Jong yielded six runs on five hits and a walk over two innings during his last appearance June 6. He will be replaced on the MLB roster by Canaan Smith-Njigba, who was recalled from Indianapolis on Friday.

JUNE 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back with parent club The Pirates selected De Jong's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

Impact De Jong was added back to the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster following a two-week stint at Indianapolis after he was outrighted to the minors in May. Over his last five outings prior to his call-up, De Jong pitched to a 2.84 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 7:5 K:BB in 6.1 innings for Indianapolis. He'll likely see most of his usage in lower-leverage spots while he's up with Pittsburgh.

JUNE 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Clears waivers De Jong cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Impact De Jong was designated for assignment Tuesday and subsequently went unclaimed on waivers. He'll have the option to elect free agency or accept the outright assignment to Indianapolis.

MAY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment De Jong was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Josh Palacios is up from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. De Jong, 29, had allowed 11 earned runs on 13 hits and five walks through 9.1 innings this season out of the Bucs' bullpen.

MAY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates' Vince Velasquez moved to 15-day IL, Chase De Jong activated The Pirates rotation was dealt its first serious blow of the season. The team announced Friday afternoon that right-hander Vince Velasquez...

MAY 5, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Activated from injured list De Jong was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Pirates on Friday.

Impact De Jong has been out of commission for the last three weeks with a back injury but is ready to go after three scoreless rehab appearances. He'll be used in middle relief.

MAY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Beginning rehab assignment De Jong (back) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Indianapolis, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Impact That should put him on track to return to the Pirates' bullpen by early next week. De Jong was placed on the injured list April 13 with a lumbar spine muscle strain.

APRIL 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Slated for live BP De Jong (back) will throw live batting practice this weekend, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact De Jong is a little less than a week removed from being diagnosed with a lumbar spine muscle strain. He'll probably need some rehab appearances before being activated.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Diagnosed with lumbar strain De Jong has been diagnosed with a lumbar spine muscle strain, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact De Jong was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Pirates on Friday with no initial specifics. It sounds like the type of injury that will cost him more than 15 days. Robert Stephenson (elbow) was activated in a corresponding roster move.

APRIL 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on 15-day IL De Jong (undisclosed) was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to April 13.

Impact There is no injury description in the Pirates' initial announcement of this move. Robert Stephenson (elbow) will come off the IL in a corresponding roster move to fill the bullpen vacancy.

APRIL 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Blows save chance De Jong allowed three earned runs on four hits to blow the save Wednesday against the Reds.

Impact De Jong entered the game with a three-run lead, but he served up back-to-back homers to blow the save chance. He's been effective for long stretches of the season but has a 5.27 ERA and 1.61 WHIP across 13.2 innings in September. He isn't likely to see save additional save chances with David Bednar back from the injured list.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates Fast 5: How Danny Murtaugh played matchmaker for Maz; Steve Blass reflects Looking back at induction weekend. Plus, Pirates-Blue Jays notes, Chase De Jong goes streaking and discusses the bullpen garden, and more.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

De Jong tames hot Phillies lineup to continue scoreless streak PITTSBURGH -- In one swift motion Chase De Jong rotated towards center field, clenched his fists and let out a cathartic yell. He escaped th...

AUGUST 28, 2022 • MLB.COM

Four hitless innings in relief De Jong allowed zero runs on zero hits and one walk while striking out one over four innings in Tuesday's 5-3 loss against the Red Sox.

Impact De Jong entered Tuesday's game after Mitch Keller left after the second inning due to shoulder fatigue. The 28-year-old held Boston hitless through four innings and only surrendered one free pass. The strong effort is in line with his season-long performance as he maintains a 2.33 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 46.1 innings. It is unlikely Pittsburgh moves him back into the rotation given his success thus far in the bullpen, but the situation is worth monitoring if Keller is forced to the IL.

AUGUST 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Activated from injured list De Jong (knee) was activated from the injured list Tuesday.

Impact De Jong wound up missing only one more day than the minimum 15 days he was required to sit out, and he will be available moving forward. De Jong is having easily the best season of his career, posting a 2.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 35.0 innings over 21 appearances out of Pittsburgh's bullpen.

AUGUST 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Could return after minimal IL stint Pirates director of sports medicine said Thursday that De Jong (knee) could return following a minimal stay on the 15-day IL, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact De Jong landed on the injured list with left knee tendinitis July 17 but is slated to throw live BP in the coming days. Assuming he feels good after facing hitters, the Pirates hope that the right-hander will be able to return to action early next week.

JULY 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sidelined with knee tendinitis The Pirates placed De Jong on the 15-day injured list Sunday with left knee tendinitis, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact De Jong is experience discomfort in the same knee that he had surgically repaired last July, so he could be at risk of spending more than the minimum amount of time on the IL. The Pirates called up their starting pitcher for Sunday's game against the Rockies, Bryse Wilson, from Triple-A Indianapolis to take over the active roster spot of De Jong, who has submitted a 2.06 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB across 35 innings out of the Pittsburgh bullpen this season.

JULY 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Wil Crowe and Chase De Jong are thriving in their new, suspenseful bullpen roles Within the last year, Wil Crowe has made the transition from starting on the mound to coming out of the bullpen. Chase De Jong, who appeared...

JUNE 23, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Chase De Jong has quietly become a very good reliever for Pirates Chase De Jong has been a fringe starter and journeyman in his MLB career. It seems the bullpen has agreed with him.

JUNE 12, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Outrighted off 40-man roster De Jong (knee) cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.

Impact De Jong struggled to a 5.77 ERA in nine starts this season, striking out just 19.9 percent of opposing batters while keeping the ball on the ground at a very low 30.1 percent clip. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in July and eventually underwent surgery. Whether or not he'll be up to full speed by the start of spring training is not yet clear, but he'll face an uphill battle to make the Opening Day roster regardless of his health now that he's off the 40-man roster.

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Transferred to 60-day IL De Jong (knee) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Impact De Jong underwent season-ending surgery on the cartilage in his left knee last week, so his move to the 60-day IL is simply procedural. The transaction will make room on the 40-man roster for Steven Brault (lat), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

AUGUST 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Undergoes season-ending surgery De Jong underwent surgery on the cartilage in his left knee Tuesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact De Jong was sent for an MRI last week after he was placed on the 10-day IL with left knee inflammation, and he'll face a five-month recovery timetable following his procedure. The right-hander made a career-high nine starts in the majors this year and recorded a 5.77 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 43.2 innings. De Jong will now shift his attention toward getting ready for spring training in 2022.

JULY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gets MRI on knee Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that De Jong (knee) underwent an MRI after being placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive...

Impact Tomczyk didn't reveal the results of the MRI, but the fact that De Jong was sent in for further examinations implies that the Pirates had some level of concern he was dealing with something more significant than left knee inflammation. De Jong will be eligible to return from the IL before the end of the month, but the Pirates likely won't have a clear idea of when he might be ready for activation until he starts throwing again.

JULY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE