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PLAYER REVIEW: PAUL DeJONG
Age on Opening Day 2026: 32
How acquired: Signed as free agent, February 2025
MLB service time: 8 years, 57 days
2025 salary: $1 million
Contract status: Free agent
2025 stats: 57 G, 208 PA, 193 AB, 18 R, 44 H, 10 2B, 0 3B, 6 HR, 23 RBI, 4 SB, 0 CS, 11 BB, 70 SO, .228 AVG, .269 OBP, .373 SLG, .642 OPS, 81 OPS+, -4 DRS, -1 OAA, -0.1 bWAR, 0.2 fWAR
Quotable: “It’s been a humbling experience for me to go back to square one and just pray to get healthy and recover from a traumatic injury. But that process went about as good as it could have gone for me.” – Paul DeJong
2025 analysis: The Nationals signed DeJong at the start of spring training with one simple goal in mind: Hold down the third base position until top prospect Brady House was ready to debut. With a solid reputation as a smooth fielder with a power bat, he seemed a natural fit for the bargain price of $1 million, whether he wound up holding the job for one month, two months or five months.
And then the whole plan was blown up because of one unfortunately errant fastball in Pittsburgh. When Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller’s high-and-tight fastball struck DeJong in the face April 15, the veteran third baseman went down in a heap on the ground. Rushed to the hospital, he was diagnosed with several facial fractures requiring surgery, though doctors were optimistic there would be no long-lasting effects of the scary incident.
It took 2 1/2 months for DeJong to fully heal and then begin baseball activities, culminating with a minor league rehab assignment. The Nationals activated him off the injured list July 2, two weeks after House made his MLB debut. They then set about trying to find him some playing time without interfering with the rookie’s development.
It wasn’t always pretty. DeJong started games at all four infield positions, taking occasional playing time away from House and others. And his offensive production was modest: six homers, 21 RBIs and a .688 OPS in 41 games following his return from the IL. He finished out the year as a part-time player on a last-place club, setting a good example for young teammates but knowing he wasn’t likely a part of the long-term plan.
2026 outlook: DeJong officially becomes a free agent after the World Series. He’s still only 32, with 146 big league homers and the ability to play anywhere in the infield. So you would think someone will be interested in his services, even if only on a non-guaranteed, minor league deal.
Would the Nationals be interested in bringing him back under such circumstances? It’s still too early to say, given how little we know about new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni’s vision. There are a lot of potential moving parts in the Nats’ projected infield, from Luis Garcia Jr.’s future with the team to CJ Abrams’ ultimate position to House’s developmental leash.
There is perhaps a scenario in which DeJong would make sense as a fallback option, a utility infielder who could step in to play at any position if needed. But the Nationals would also love for the much younger Nasim Nuñez to prove worthy of that role. As much as they respect DeJong and appreciate what he did here, they’re probably ready to part ways.
