Former Redbird standout Paul DeJong has been named a finalist for the 2019 Gold Glove Award at shortstop, as announced by Rawlings on Thursday afternoon. The award honors the best individual fielding performances at each position. He is one of six members of the St. Louis Cardinals to be named a finalist at their position, the most of any MLB team.
The 2019 MLB All-Star finished the regular season batting .233 in 583 at-bats with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs. On defense, he posted a .989 fielding percentage, the best of all major league shortstops.
The winners will be unveiled in a live, one-hour "Baseball Tonight" broadcast on ESPN on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. CT. If he wins, DeJong would be the first Illinois State product to earn a Gold Glove.
DeJong was drafted in the fourth round (131st overall) by the Cardinals in 2015. In three seasons at Illinois State, he batted .326 with 23 home runs and 113 RBIs in 144 games. He was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team selection as a Redbird.
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