2012 Dodgers Player Profile: Ivan De Jesus Junior

Before Ivan broke his leg during spring training almost three years to the day, Ivan looked to be on pace to be part of the Dodger infield by 2010. We are now headed for 2012 with DeJesus a dark horse to make the team. This was DeJesus's skill set after 2008:

• Solid defensive skills for a SS
• Plus patience (.419 OB as a 21 year old in AA, 13.6 BB Rate)
  
• Played AA as a 21 year old
• Rated the 2nd best Dodger prospect by Baseball Prospectus

Three years later

• Moved from SS to 2B, range and ability to turn the deuce are in question
• Little power for having played in one of the best offensive home stadiums
• Played AAA as a 24 year old
• Baseball prospectus didn't even rank DeJesus among their top 20 Dodger Prospects

Losing that whole season not only set back his timetable but the injury was severe enough that he is no longer a shortstop but a second baseman with questionable defense. It has been three years since he badly broke his leg, so he should be as good as he is ever going to be athletically.

I used to think DeJesus could be our second baseman, his 21-year old AA season had plenty of things to like, but as we enter the spring of 2012 that was a long time ago. His 2011 season certainly had some moments that if you squinted hard enough you could see some signs of the 21 year old who was once our best position prospect.

Using MinorLeagueCentral we can see that De Jesus improved each month staring in April with a .616 OPS and finishing with a flourish in Aug with a .922 OPS. He had more at bats in the Aug/Sept time frame then any other month. He flashed his old OBP skills with a sparkling .422 mark. The down side is that his stats are heavily home favored.

Once the AAA 2011 season was over, DeJesus was not called up for a September look for the second season in a row even though he was the hottest infielder on the Isotopes. Many feel that was a sign he has no future with the Dodgers. Character concerns have been rumored to be a problem.

Contract Status

Using Eric Stephen's Payroll Worksheet:

2011: DeJesus will earn $414,000 per Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.

DeJesus was optioned to Triple A after the game on Tuesday, April 5, but he was recalled on April 12 to replace the injured Rafael Furcal. DeJesus gets full major league service time as if he never left on April 5.

DeJesus was optioned on May 13, meaning he accrued 44 days of service time.
$414,000 x 44/183 = $99,541

DeJesus was recalled on June 4, and was optioned to Triple A on June 6, so he was with the big club for two days.

$414,000 x 2/183 = $4,568

Stats

Trivia

His Dad was involved in two very significant trades. The first one:

January 11, 1977: Traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers with Jeff Albert (minors) and Bill Buckner to theChicago Cubs for Mike Garman and Rick Monday.

Brought the Dodgers Rick Monday who would go onto have a solid Dodger career including hitting one of the most important home runs ever hit in Post Season play.

The Second One:

January 27, 1982: Traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Philadelphia Phillies for Larry Bowa and Ryne Sandberg.

Gave the Cubs their HOF second baseman, the 22 year old Ryne Sandberg would be a MVP just two years later. Maybe one of the worst trades in all the 80's.

The Cubs were so thankful to DeJesus that they made him a 1st base coach forever.

2011 Outlook

No one seems to like Ivan De Jesus as anything more then a utility infielder, and the Dodgers pick up of Adam Kennedy spoke volumes about what they think of him. De Jesus made the opening day roster last year due to a rash of spring injuries. It would take the same turn of events for him to make the team this year. He should be the starting 2nd baseman for the Isotopes for the 3rd year in a row and battle Sellers for the call up when Adam Kennedy or Mark Ellis get hurt.