Mark DeJohn
Encyclopedia
Mark Stephen DeJohn is an American
professional baseball
coach
who in will serve as field coordinator of instruction in the St. Louis Cardinals
' farm system. He is a former minor league
manager
and Major League
infielder and coach
. He spent the season as the manager of the Batavia Muckdogs
of the New York-Penn League, the Cardinals' Short Season Class A affiliate, and in was the Cardinals' roving minor league quality control coordinator.
A former shortstop
, DeJohn was chosen by the New York Mets
in the 23rd round of the 1971 amateur draft after his graduation from Woodrow Wilson High School in Middletown. He spent seven years in the Met farm system, including three with the Triple-A Tidewater Tides, before becoming a free agent
before the season. He eventually signed with the Detroit Tigers
, who gave him his only Major League trial at the outset of the campaign. DeJohn appeared in 24 games—including eight starts at shortstop. He batted
21 times and connected for four hits
, including two doubles
, for a .190 batting average
with one run batted in. A switch hitter
who threw right-handed, DeJohn stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.8 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).
He began his coaching career in the Tiger system and made his managerial debut in 1985 as one of four managers employed by Detroit's Double-A Birmingham Barons
affiliate. The following season, DeJohn joined the Cardinal system as a full-time minor league
skipper. Apart from the season, when he returned to the Tigers to manage the London Tigers
of the Double-A Eastern League, DeJohn has been a member of the St. Louis organization since as a minor league manager (1986-91; 2002-09), field coordinator of instruction (1993-95; 2010), and coach at the Major League level (1996-2001). He was a member of Tony LaRussa's coaching staff with the Cardinals for LaRussa's first six seasons as Redbird manager.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
who in will serve as field coordinator of instruction in 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...
' farm system. He is a former minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and Major League
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...
infielder and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. He spent the season as the manager of the Batavia Muckdogs
Batavia Muckdogs
The Batavia Muckdogs are a minor league baseball team based in Batavia, a city in Genesee County, New York, United States. The Muckdogs are the current Short-Season A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals...
of the New York-Penn League, the Cardinals' Short Season Class A affiliate, and in was the Cardinals' roving minor league quality control coordinator.
A former 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...
, DeJohn was chosen by 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...
in the 23rd round of the 1971 amateur draft after his graduation from Woodrow Wilson High School in Middletown. He spent seven years in the Met farm system, including three with the Triple-A Tidewater Tides, before becoming a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
before the season. He eventually signed with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, who gave him his only Major League trial at the outset of the campaign. DeJohn appeared in 24 games—including eight starts at shortstop. He batted
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
21 times and connected for four hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, including two doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, for a .190 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with one run batted in. A switch hitter
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
who threw right-handed, DeJohn stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.8 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).
He began his coaching career in the Tiger system and made his managerial debut in 1985 as one of four managers employed by Detroit's Double-A Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
affiliate. The following season, DeJohn joined the Cardinal system as a full-time minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
skipper. Apart from the season, when he returned to the Tigers to manage the London Tigers
London Tigers
The London Tigers were a professional AA baseball team that played in the Eastern League from 1989 to 1993. They played at Labatt Memorial Park in London, Ontario, and were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers.-History:...
of the Double-A Eastern League, DeJohn has been a member of the St. Louis organization since as a minor league manager (1986-91; 2002-09), field coordinator of instruction (1993-95; 2010), and coach at the Major League level (1996-2001). He was a member of Tony LaRussa's coaching staff with the Cardinals for LaRussa's first six seasons as Redbird manager.