NewsDeJesus has unfinished business in 2010
Royals outfielder looking to rebound after '09 health issues
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
10/22/09 3:12 PM ET
KANSAS CITY -- The end of the season came too early and with bad timing for David DeJesus.The Royals left fielder had just reeled off a career-high 17-game hitting streak in which he hit .342. Even better, during that Aug. 30-Sept. 18 streak, the team had a 10-7 record.
The next night at Chicago, DeJesus came out of the game with a sore right ankle after one at-bat and his hitting streak was over. He missed two games, came back to play three times but left the Sept. 24 game with flu and his season was over. A flu virus kept him out for the last nine games of the season.
Better now, he's been resting in Kansas City, working with some charitable causes, anticipating a vacation and then getting to work for the 2010 season.
Last season began very slowly for DeJesus, but his strong showing before the ankle mishap and the illness have him looking to next year with enthusiasm.
"I don't understand how it happened but it's a new year every year and, hopefully, I can keep that in my mind. Start strong and be able to continue that throughout the season," he said.
In 2009, coming off a career-best .307 season, DeJesus was sputtering at .231 as late as June 9.
"That slow start just hung around for a couple of months and it just showed me that perseverance is part of baseball and it's a really long season," he said. "There's plenty of time to get your numbers where you want them to be."
From that date through the end of his season, DeJesus batted .309 in 91 games. In that period he had 50 of his total 71 RBIs, 10 of his 13 homers and 18 of his 28 doubles. He boosted his final average to .281.
"All those little things that me and [hitting coach Kevin Seitzer] were working on were coming about -- at the plate and just my overall game," DeJesus said. "It's one of those things: When you feel confident, you play better and I think that's what happened for me."
His on-base percentage of .347 was third on the club, behind Billy Butler's .362 and Alberto Callaspo's .356, as he drew 51 walks and was hit by pitches eight times. By the way, that's 67 times getting plunked, third most in club history and one more than Mike Sweeney in his KC career.
"That was a great year then," DeJesus said with a laugh. "I passed the legendary Sweeney."
And all the while he was playing the outfield without making an error. That's right, no errors along with 13 assists, tied for second most in the American League, and an endless string of diving, sliding and leaping catches. That could put him in the Gold Glove category this year.
Even though he rejoined the Royals for the final three games at Minnesota, he was still weak from the flu and didn't get back in the lineup.
"I was feeling good, confident at the plate and in the field and our team was winning games, so it was tough to miss the last nine," he said.
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
