(August 7, 2020, SUGAR LAND, TEXAS). – The Sugar Land Skeeters today announced that the Houston Astros have purchased the contract of RHP Chase De Jong from the Constellation Energy League.

De Jong becomes the third player to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization from the Constellation Energy League and the second by the Astros. The other players to have their contracts purchased were RHP Brett Eibner (Miami Marlins) and RHP Fernando Rodney (Astros).

De Jong, who has three years of Major League experience, made five starts for Team Skeeters, going 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA and striking out 27 batters in 17 innings pitched. At the time of his contract being purchased, he led the Constellation Energy League in strikeouts and strikeouts-per-nine-innings (17.0). On July 16, De Jong struck out nine batters against Team Texas in four innings or work and followed that up in his next start by striking out 10 batters through five innings against the Eastern Reyes del Tigre.

The 26-year-old appeared with the Seattle Mariners from 2017-18 and with the Minnesota Twins in 2019. He’s appeared in 12 games (eight starts) across his three Major League seasons. De Jong finished out his 2019 campaign with the Sugar Land Skeeters, helping lead the team to its second straight Atlantic League Championship Series appearance.

The Toronto Blue Jays selected De Jong in the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft out of Woodrow Wilson High School (Long Beach, CA). Along with the Blue Jays, Mariners and Twins, De Jong has also appeared at the affiliated level within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

The Sugar Land Skeeters today announced that the Chicago Cubs purchased the contract of left-hander Matt Dermody from the Constellation Energy League.

Dermody joins right-hander Chase De Jong and Fernando Rodney (Houston Astros) and right-hander Brett Eibner (Miami Marlins) as the four players to have their contracts purchased from the Constellation Energy League.

Dermody, 30, went 1-0 with a 0.79 ERA through four appearances (three starts) for Team Skeeters. As of his last start on July 31, his 0.79 ERA was the lowest qualifying ERA in the Constellation Energy League. Dermody struck out 17 batters over 11 1/3 innings pitched, allowing just nine hits.

Dermody has two seasons of MLB experience, appearing with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2016-17. He made 28 appearances (25 1/3 innings pitched) with the Blue Jays at the Major League level. He made a Major League career-high 23 appearances in 2017, going 2-0 with a 4.43 ERA.

The Blue Jays selected Dermody in the 28^th round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of the University of Iowa. He last appeared at the affiliated minor league level in 2019 at the Triple-A level within the Blue Jays organization.

The Constellation Energy League features four professional baseball teams, including Team Texas, managed by Roger and Koby Clemens, Team Skeeters, managed by College Baseball Hall-of-Famer, Pete Incaviglia, the Sugar Land Lightning Sloths, managed by College Baseball Hall-of-Famer, Greg Swindell, and the Eastern Reyes del Tigre, managed by former Major League pitching coach, Dave Eiland. The four teams will play a combined total of 56 games, all at Constellation Field, from July 10 – Aug. 30.  

For updates and more information on the Constellation Energy League and the Skeeters, please visit sugarlandskeeters.com or follow the Skeeters on Facebook, Instagram (@sugarlandskeeters) and Twitter (@SL_Skeeters).

About the Sugar Land Skeeters

The Skeeters play at Constellation Field, a state-of-the-art stadium located at the intersection of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A in Sugar Land. The Skeeters are a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) and play 126 regular-season games.  The Skeeters Baseball Foundation promotes youth education and healthy activities lifestyles by providing support to culturally, racially and economically diverse areas of the community.  For more information please call 281-240-4487 or visit sugarlandskeeters.com.