David DeJesus
| AB | 5220 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .275 |
| OBP | .349 |
| SLG | .412 |
| HR | 99 |
- Full name David Christopher DeJesus
- Born 12/20/1979 in Brooklyn, NY
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Rutgers
- Debut 09/02/2003
-
Drafted in the 4th round (104th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2000.
View Draft Report
DeJesus is the kind of player area scouts love but crosscheckers take longer to warm to. In other words, it takes time to truly appreciate his talent. He has excellent instincts for the game, plays hard and does everything by the book. He doesn't have outstanding tools, but power is the only one he really lacks. He hit just two homers this season for Rutgers.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
DeJesus plays with an almost reckless aggression, which has resulted in several trips to the disabled list and postponed his pro debut for two years. Last year, he injured his right shoulder twice diving for balls in the outfield but recovered to make his big league debut in September. DeJesus is instinctive and plays above the sum of his tools. He shows gap-to-gap power, good control of the strike zone and above-average speed, which should make him an effective leadoff or No. 2 hitter. He's a solid center fielder, with decent range and an arm that rates a tick above-average. DeJesus doesn't have a lot of power but did show more juice in the Arizona Fall League, especially when driving inside pitches. Despite his high on-base percentages, he has a knack for making weak contact against poor pitches. The Royals will give DeJesus a shot at winning their left-field job this spring, but he won't make the team unless management projects at least 300 at-bats for him. He could take over center field when Carlos Beltran leaves. -
It took him two years to make his pro debut, but the hard-nosed DeJesus never gave in to injuries. He sustained a hairline fracture in his right elbow sliding into second base in his last college game at Rutgers. After signing in August 2000, DeJesus slightly tore a ligament in his left elbow five days into instructional league. During spring training in 2001, he felt a pop in the elbow and soon thereafter had Tommy John surgery. Finally healthy in 2002, DeJesus got off to a hot start in high Class A before cooling off in Double-A. He makes solid contact, shows good plate discipline and will take a walk. He's a gap hitter who probably won't hit more than 10-15 homers annually, but his above-average speed should allow him to steal 15-20 bases. He had a good showing in the Arizona Fall League. Defensively, DeJesus can play all three outfield positions well and his arm, which is currently below-average, should improve. If he can stay healthy and keep overachieving, DeJesus might play his way into a fourth outfielder's role in the majors. He'll start this year in Double-A.
Minor League Top Prospects
-
DeJesus hurt his elbow in his final college game at Rutgers in 2000, delaying his pro debut until 2002. He made up for lost time by ending this season in Kansas City, and if the Royals trade Carlos Beltran he could step in as their center fielder next year. DeJesus doesn't have an overwhelming physique or collection of tools, but like Greene he's a gamer who maximizes his talent. While he won't produce runs like Beltran, DeJesus is an ideal No. 2 hitter. He uses the whole field, bunts for hits, has mastered the strike zone and owns enough power to keep pitchers honest. His speed and instincts allow him to get good jumps on the bases and in center field.
