Mike DeJean
Encyclopedia
Michael Dwain DeJean is a former right-handed relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
.
DeJean played shortstop
during his college career at Mississippi Delta Community College and Livingston University. In , while playing for Livingston in the Division II College World Series
, DeJean pitched to two batters, retiring both. He was selected in the 24th round of the 1992 amateur draft by the New York Yankees
and signed to a professional contract as a pitcher.
DeJean was traded to the Colorado Rockies
in and made his major league debut on May 2, , pitching a scoreless inning in relief against the Philadelphia Phillies
. DeJean achieved modest success as a closer
for the Milwaukee Brewers
in and , but struggled mightily during brief tenures with the St. Louis Cardinals
and Baltimore Orioles
. He was named National League
Player of the Week for May 26 through June 1, . He was traded to the New York Mets
during the 2004 season, but was released in June . With the Mets, DeJean posted 3-1 record and 6.31 ERA. In July 2005, DeJean signed with the Rockies, re-joining the team that he began his career with in 1997. With the Rockies, DeJean posted 2-3 record and 3.19 ERA in 38 games, all in relief.
On October 27, 2005, the Rockies officially announced that they signed DeJean to a one-year contract, guaranteeing him $1.3 million ($1.15 million in base salary and $150,000 on a mutual option of $1.5 million salary in ). He appeared in 20 games in AAA Colorado Springs on an injury rehab assignment, but was released before making an appearance with the major league club. After signing a minor league contract with the Houston Astros
during the 07-08 off-season, Dejean was released before appearing in a game.
DeJean is married with two children and resides in West Monroe, Louisiana
.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
DeJean played shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
during his college career at Mississippi Delta Community College and Livingston University. In , while playing for Livingston in the Division II College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
, DeJean pitched to two batters, retiring both. He was selected in the 24th round of the 1992 amateur draft by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and signed to a professional contract as a pitcher.
DeJean was traded to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in and made his major league debut on May 2, , pitching a scoreless inning in relief against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. DeJean achieved modest success as a closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in and , but struggled mightily during brief tenures with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. He was named National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Player of the Week for May 26 through June 1, . He was traded to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
during the 2004 season, but was released in June . With the Mets, DeJean posted 3-1 record and 6.31 ERA. In July 2005, DeJean signed with the Rockies, re-joining the team that he began his career with in 1997. With the Rockies, DeJean posted 2-3 record and 3.19 ERA in 38 games, all in relief.
On October 27, 2005, the Rockies officially announced that they signed DeJean to a one-year contract, guaranteeing him $1.3 million ($1.15 million in base salary and $150,000 on a mutual option of $1.5 million salary in ). He appeared in 20 games in AAA Colorado Springs on an injury rehab assignment, but was released before making an appearance with the major league club. After signing a minor league contract with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
during the 07-08 off-season, Dejean was released before appearing in a game.
DeJean is married with two children and resides in West Monroe, Louisiana
West Monroe, Louisiana
West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,250 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area....
.