Thoughts on DeJong’s slump

Paul DeJong is a confusing player. Through 119 PAs, he has a 121 wRC+ and none of it has been lucky. His xwOBA is better than his actual wOBA, his BABIP is still below his career level, his strikeouts and walks are in line with his career. Everything appears to be on the up-and-up. In his previous 813 PAs, DeJong was a 77 wRC+ hitter. He probably “deserved” to be better, but not by much and not even close to a 121 wRC+ or his career level of 98.

Paul DeJong is a simple player. After a hot start to his career, pitchers figured DeJong out and he became an average hitter, good defender. Injuries and/or decline caused DeJong to become a bad hitter. He is still a not very good hitter who was just…