Exclusive: Drilled in face with fastball, Paul DeJong starts road back after scary moment

Published 29 April 2025 Washington Nationals infielder Paul DeJong has watched the video dozens of times, but not once has he dared to do so with sound. Maybe one day. But not now. DeJong, lying in a hospital bed Monday recovering from 2 ½ hours of sinus, orbital plate and nose surgery, isn’t ready to even watch baseball games again, much less hear the gruesome sound of a 92.7-mph fastball hitting him in the face. It happened on April 15. DeJong was battling flu symptoms, was taking antibiotics for a respiratory infection, and wasn’t sure he could even play on the cool and wet 46-degree night. He likely would have taken the game off any other night, but this was Jackie Robison Day and he was playing in Roberto Clemente’s Pittsburgh. No way he was going to sit this one out. It was too important for him to wear No. 42. The Nationals were trailing 1-0 with a runner on first base in the top of the sixth inning at PNC Park when DeJong stepped to the plate. The count reached 2-and-1 when Pirates starter Mitch Keller threw a 93-mph fastball. It sailed directly towards DeJong’s head. He had no chance to get out of the way. The ball hit him flush in the face, immediately breaking his nose and leaving a gash below his left eye.