After being ‘positive and patient,’ Cards option DeJong to Triple-A

Feeling that they had been plenty “positive and patient” with Paul DeJong, the Cardinals optioned the struggling shortstop to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday when “the at-bats looked the same and the adjustment wasn’t coming” and started the process of finding their next long-term shortstop.

On Tuesday, when the Cardinals hosted the Orioles at Busch Stadium for the first time since 2003, the shortstop job fell onto the shoulders of rookie Brendan Donovan, who became the first player since 1900 to make his first four MLB starts at four different infield positions. Tommy Edman, the Gold Glove winner at second base last season, will get more pregame work at shortstop in the coming days and could see time there soon. Also, Edmundo Sosa will finish up a two-game rehab stint at Double-A Springfield on Wednesday and could potentially play for the Cardinals later this week.

As for the status of DeJong, who hit just .130 in 24 games, the Cardinals staff met on the team plane Sunday night on the way home from San Francisco and again in St. Louis on Monday. The decision to option their full-time shortstop since 2017 to the Minors was made prior to Tuesday’s game. .