Delino DeShields Jr.

Delino Diaab DeShields (born August 16, 1992) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Texas Rangers from 2015 through 2019. He is the son of former MLB player Delino DeShields and the brother of basketball player Diamond DeShields.

Delino DeShields
DeShields with the Indians in February 2020
Cleveland Indians – No. 0
Outfielder
Born: (1992-08-16) August 16, 1992
Easton, Maryland
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 8, 2015, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
(through August 16, 2020)
Batting average.246
Home runs18
Runs batted in128
Stolen bases106
Teams

The Houston Astros selected DeShields in the first round of the 2010 MLB Draft. The Rangers selected DeShields from the Astros in the Rule 5 draft after the 2014 season. DeShields made his MLB debut with Texas in 2015. The Rangers traded him to the Indians after the 2019 season for Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians.

Early life

DeShields, the eldest of his father's five children, was raised in the Atlanta area. He went to Woodward Academy, where he played both baseball and football. In his senior year at Woodward, he hit 9 home runs and batted .415, while stealing 29 bases. He was recruited by the Georgia Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels for football before deciding to pursue baseball instead.[1] He was also recruited by the LSU Tigers for baseball, but they only committed a half-scholarship to him due to his desire to play professionally.

Professional career

The Houston Astros selected DeShields in the first round, with the eighth overall selection, of the 2010 MLB draft. The Astros signed DeShields for a $2.15 million signing bonus.[2] Astros general manager Ed Wade stated his intention to send DeShields to the rookie-level Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League once he was signed, with a transition to second base during the winter.[3]

In 2011, DeShields played 16 games for Greeneville and two for the GCL Astros.[4] He has also played for the Lexington Legends of the South Atlantic League, the Lancaster JetHawks of the California League, and the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Double-A Texas League. On April 18, 2014, DeShields was hit in the face by a 90 miles per hour (140 km/h) pitch. He suffered a non-displaced maxillary sinus fracture.[5]

Texas Rangers
DeShields with the Corpus Christi Hooks in 2014

At the 2014 Winter Meetings, the Texas Rangers selected DeShields from the Astros in the Rule 5 draft.[6] DeShields made the Rangers' Opening Day roster.[7] He recorded his first major league hit in the 8th inning on an infield single against Dan Otero of the Oakland Athletics on April 8.[8] On June 3, 2015, DeShields was named American League Rookie of the Month for May after batting .296 for the month and scoring 22 runs.[9] On August 14, he would hit his first Major League home run against Tampa Bay. After the 2015 season, DeShields changed his uniform number from 7 to 3. After the completion of the 2015 season, DeShields finished in 7th place in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, with one third place vote. He was voted as the Texas Rangers' Rookie of the Year by fellow players and coaches.

DeShields would begin the 2016 season as the Rangers' starting center fielder, but would eventually lose his job to Ian Desmond for inconsistency and be demoted to Triple-A Round Rock. DeShields would finish with a .209 batting average, 4 home runs and 13 RBIs with 8 stolen bases in 74 games. Deshields would make the 2017 Opening Day roster. On April 21, 2017, he hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 13th inning in a game against the Kansas City Royals.[10]

On March 31, 2018, DeShields experienced pain in his left hand after swinging. He was diagnosed with a broken hamate bone in the left hand, ruling him out for four to six weeks.[11] DeShields ended the season with a .216 batting average with 2 home runs and 20 stolen bases. In 2019, he hit .249/.325/.347/.672 with 4 home runs, 32 RBI, and 24 stolen bases.

Cleveland Indians

On December 15, 2019, the Rangers traded DeShields and Emmanuel Clase to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Corey Kluber and cash considerations.[12]

Awards

DeShields was given the 2018 Texas Rangers Harold McKinney Good Guy Award by the DFW BBWAA chapter for the 2018 season.[13]

Personal life

DeShields is the son of former MLB player Delino DeShields. His sister, Diamond DeShields, is a professional basketball player in the WNBA.[14] DeShields has a paternal half-brother and two paternal half-sisters.

DeShields was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, possession of alcohol by a minor and a traffic violation in Georgia on January 16, 2011. He was released on $2,500 bail and charged with the three misdemeanors.[15]

On July 3, 2020, it was announced that DeShields had tested positive for COVID-19.[16]

References
  1. "Five players to watch at Corky Kell Classic". ajc.com. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  2. http://www.wboc.com/story/12935106/astros-sign-1st-round-pick-delino-deshields-jr
  3. "Astros select Delino DeShields Jr. with 8th overall pick". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  4. "Delino DeShields". Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  5. Axisa, Mike. "Delino DeShields Jr's swollen face after HBP is terrifying". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  6. "Rangers notes: Texas takes Delino DeShields in Rule 5 draft". star-telegram. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  7. "Rookies DeShields Jr., Kela add youth, speed to Rangers' roster". star-telegram. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  8. "Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics - Play By Play - April 08, 2015 - ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  9. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/rookie_of_the_month_award.shtml
  10. "Inning 13 is lucky for walkoff Rangers". Lone Star Ball. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  11. "Delino DeShields breaks hamate bone in left hand". MLB. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  12. R.J. Anderson (December 15, 2019). "Rangers acquire Corey Kluber from Indians in latest hot stove shake-up". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  13. "Rangers hand out 2018 awards. Who won what in the first year of their rebuilding plan?". star-telegram.com. December 7, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  14. https://www.mlb.com/cut4/delino-deshields-and-diamond-deshields-embrace-in-chicago/c-277166010
  15. Levine, Zachary (January 16, 2011). "Astros' first-round pick DeShields Jr. arrested". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  16. "Indians: OF DeShields tests positive, doing well". ESPN.com. July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
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