David DeJesus

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=David DeJesus

|image=David DeJesus on April 16, 2014.jpg

|image_size=270px

|caption=DeJesus with the Tampa Bay Rays

|position=Outfielder

|bats=Left

|throws=Left

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1979|12|20}}

|birth_place=Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 2

|debutyear=2003

|debutteam=Kansas City Royals

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 23

|finalyear=2015

|finalteam=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.275

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=99

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=573

|teams=

Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2003}}–{{mlby|2010}})
Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2011}})
Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2013}})
Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2013}})
Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2013}}–{{mlby|2015}})
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim ({{mlby|2015}})

}}

David Christopher DeJesus ({{IPAc-en|d|ə|ˈ|h|eɪ|s|uː|s}}; born December 20, 1979) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals, Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. DeJesus, who is of Puerto Rican descent, is currently an analyst for the Cubs with NBC Sports Chicago.

Career

DeJesus was raised in Manalapan Township, New Jersey,[http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031028&content_id=595637&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kca DeJesus: Baseball beginnings] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304071901/http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20031028&content_id=595637&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kca |date=March 4, 2008 }}, Major League Baseball, October 28, 2003. Accessed February 20, 2008. "My name is David DeJesus. I was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Manalapan, New Jersey." and played high school baseball at Manalapan High School.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070309031539/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=430203 David DeJesus player profile], Kansas City Royals. Accessed July 19, 2007. "Full name is David Christopher DeJesus...graduated from Manalapan (N.J.) High in 1997" He was drafted out of high school by the New York Mets in the 43rd round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft. DeJesus did not sign with the Mets, opting instead to attend Rutgers University. In 1998 he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) for the Bourne Braves, and returned to the CCBL in 1999 with the Chatham A's where he was named a league all-star.{{Cite web |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |access-date=January 9, 2020 |publisher=capecodbaseball.org}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=1999&T=chatham_as |title=1999 Chatham As |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://master.v2.capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ftp/archives/Arc1999/allstar_roster.htm |title=Cape Cod Baseball League 1999 All-Star Teams |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=May 6, 2020}} DeJesus was drafted in the fourth round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Kansas City Royals.

=Kansas City Royals=

DeJesus made his Major League debut on September 2, 2003. After Carlos Beltrán was traded to the Houston Astros in 2004, DeJesus became the starting center fielder for the Royals. He finished sixth in the 2004 Rookie of the Year voting. On March 9, 2006, DeJesus signed a five-year, $13.8 million contract extension with the Royals through 2010, with a club option for the 2011 season.{{Cite web |last=Kaegel |first=Dick |date=March 9, 2006 |title=Notes: DeJesus inks long-term deal Contract runs gh 2010 with club option for 2011 |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060309&content_id=1341624&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329131940/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060309&content_id=1341624&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=March 29, 2012 |access-date=December 19, 2008 |website=MLB.com}} On June 15, 2008, De Jesus hit the first grand slam of his career. This prompted the game caller to remark, "He smashed the living DeJesus out of that ball!"{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2008 |title=De Jesús y Posada producen en grande |url=http://www.primerahora.com/deportes/beisbol/nota/dejesusyposadaproducenengrande-201040 |access-date=June 17, 2008 |publisher=Primera Hora |language=Spanish}}

In 2010, DeJesus was in threat of being traded along with his fellow starting outfielders, Scott Podsednik and José Guillén, who were both traded. DeJesus, on the other hand, tore a tendon on his right thumb crashing into a fence in Yankee Stadium on July 22 trying to catch a fly ball by New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter that eventually ended up being an inside-the-park home run for Jeter and had season-ending surgery.{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2010 |title=Royals' DeJesus needs surgery; out 10 weeks |url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5404491 |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}} DeJesus was hoping to return to the team in September, but instead was moved to the 60-Day DL.{{Cite web |title=David DeJesus |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/5799/david-dejesus |website=ESPN.com}} He finished the 2010 season batting .318 with 5 home runs and 37 RBIs in 352 at-bats.{{Cite web |title=David DeJesus 2010 Batting Gamelogs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=dejesda01&t=b&year=2010 |access-date=November 2, 2017 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

On October 2, 2010, the Royals picked up his $6 million club option for 2011.

=Oakland Athletics=

File:David DeJesus on June 8, 2011 (1).jpg]]

On November 11, 2010, DeJesus was traded to the Oakland Athletics for pitcher Vin Mazzaro and minor league pitcher Justin Marks. He finished his lone season with Oakland batting .240 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs in 131 games.

=Chicago Cubs=

On November 30, 2011, DeJesus signed a two-year deal worth $10 million, to be the primary right fielder for the Chicago Cubs.{{Cite news |last=Muskat |first=Carrie |date=November 30, 2011 |title=Cubs sign DeJesus to play right field |work=MLB.com |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111130&content_id=26060294&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |access-date=December 1, 2011}}

In 2013, due to the signing of Nate Schierholtz, DeJesus moved to center field for the 2013 season.

=Washington Nationals=

On August 19, 2013, DeJesus was traded to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later.Perry, Dayn (August 19, 2013). [http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/23223399 "Nationals acquire David DeJesus from Cubs"]. CBSSports.com. He appeared in three games for the Nationals, going 0-for-3.

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On August 23, the Nationals traded DeJesus to the Tampa Bay Rays for future considerations.{{Cite web |title=Rays acquire David DeJesus from Nationals |url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/23283307/report-rays-acquire-david-dejesus-from-nationals}} DeJesus got off to a hot start with the Rays culminating in a walk-off single in the 18th inning against the Baltimore Orioles scoring Desmond Jennings.{{Cite web|url=http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_09_20_balmlb_tbamlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=tb|title=Orioles 4, Rays 5 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday|access-date=September 22, 2013|archive-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927232607/http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_09_20_balmlb_tbamlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=tb|url-status=dead}}

On November 6, 2013, DeJesus re-signed {{Cite web |date=November 6, 2013 |title=DeJesus, Rays agree to $10.5M, 2-year deal |url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/9936415 |website=ESPN.com}} with the Rays, inking a two-year, $10.5 million deal. The Rays, without a true designated hitter, put DeJesus in that role in 2014, where he appeared the most. On June 19, DeJesus was placed on the disabled list with a left hand fracture on a check swing the previous day.{{Cite web |last=Mooney |first=Roger |date=June 19, 2014 |title=Rays place DeJesus on DL |url=http://tbo.com/sports/rays/rays-place-dejesus-on-dl-20140619/ |website=The Tampa Tribune |access-date=June 19, 2014 |archive-date=June 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622173122/http://tbo.com/sports/rays/rays-place-dejesus-on-dl-20140619/ |url-status=dead }} He was hitting .269 with 5 HR and 17 RBI in 62 games before the injury. He was leading the team with a .367 OBP and a .440 SLG.

=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim=

On July 28, 2015, DeJesus was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for minor league pitcher Eduar Lopez.{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Alden |date=July 28, 2015 |title=Angels acquire outfielders DeJesus, Murphy |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/the-angels-acquired-david-dejesus-murphy/c-139280904 |access-date=July 28, 2015 |website=MLB.com |archive-date=July 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731001909/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/139280904/the-angels-acquired-david-dejesus-murphy |url-status=live }}{{Cite tweet |number=626162198281203712 |user=Angels |title=Today the #Angels have acquired OF David DeJesus from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for RHP Eduar Lopez. |author=Angels |date=July 28, 2015}}

=Retirement=

On March 22, 2017, DeJesus announced his retirement.{{Cite web |last= Baer |first=Bill |date=March 22, 2017 |title=David DeJesus retires |url=https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2017/03/22/david-dejesus-retires/ |access-date=June 11, 2023 |publisher=NBC Sports |language=en}}

Personal life

DeJesus was married to former high school art teacher and The Amazing Race 23 contestant Kim DeJesus ({{nee}} Iliff).{{Cite web |title=MLB wives Nicky Getz, Kim DeJesus team up on The Amazing Race |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130828&content_id=58800698&c_id=mlb |website=MLB.com}} Together, they have a son named David Kingston DeJesus Jr. He goes by the name Kingston.