Cardinals' Paul DeJong belts homer in intrasquad game

July 10 (UPI) -- Paul DeJong crushed a 372-foot home run into the left field seats during the St. Louis Cardinals' first intrasquad game of summer camp at Busch Stadium.

DeJong went 2 for 2 with four RBIs for the Red Team in a 4-1 win against the Blue Team Thursday in St. Louis. He hit his home run in the fourth inning off Cardinals left-handed relief pitcher Andrew Miller.

The Red Team had a stacked lineup, with Kolten Wong, Matt Carpenter, Paul Goldschmidt, DeJong and Yadier Molina at the top of the batting order. Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty also started for the Red Team. Dakota Hudson started for the Blue Team.

Flaherty got into a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, but allowed just one run before he escaped trouble. He allowed two hits and two walks in a 43-pitch performance against his teammates.

DeJong got the scoring started with a two-run single in the first frame off Hudson. He plated two more runs with his fourth-inning blast.

"DeJong's on pace for about 480 RBIs for the season," Cardinals manager Mike Shildt told reporters.

"He is just getting his head around staying with his approach, which has been fantastic in every simulated game we've played."

The Cardinals infielder hit .233 with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs in 159 games last season. DeJong was a first-time All-Star selection in 2019.

The Cardinals are scheduled to start the season against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 8:15 p.m. EDT July 24 at Busch Stadium.

Baseball kicks off with preseason training

Kansas City Royals batter Alex Gordon connects for a sacrifice RBI during an exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 22. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas delivers a pitch to the Royals. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Royals' coach John Mabry watches batting practice before the exhibition game. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Major League umpires, from left to right, D.J. Reyburn, Ron Kulpa and Andy Fletcher, wait to enter the field for the exhibition game. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Washington Nationals play an exhibition game with the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on July 21. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The Nationals' Starlin Castro connects for a hit. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The Nationals' Adam Eaton (L) celebrates after scoring off an RBI single by Howie Kendrick against the Orioles. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Baltimore Orioles' Dilson Herrera slides home in the seventh inning against the Nationals in their exhibition game. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The Nationals' Juan Soto swings for a ball. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

St. Louis Cardinals Edmundo Sosa (L) and Rangel Ravelo share a laugh as they walk to the dugout for an intrasquad game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 21. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals' Austin Dean rounds second base for third as he advances on a hit. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cleveland Indians' Adam Cimber pitches during the seventh inning of an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Progressive Field in Cleveland on July 20. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo

Pittsburgh Pirates' Bryan Reynolds is unable to come up with a catch on a ball hit in the third inning of an exhibition game with the Indians. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo

From left to right, the Indians' Jose Ramirez, Oscar Mercado and Francisco Lindor stand for the national anthem prior to the game. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo

Los Angeles Dodgers right-fielder Mookie Betts (R) celebrates his three-run homer in the second inning with third base coach Dino Ebel at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 20. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty wipes his face during batting practice at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 20. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Nationals' Juan Soto (L) scores past Baltimore Orioles catcher Austin Wynns on a double in the seventh inning of a preseason game at Camden Yards in Baltimore on July 20. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

The Orioles' DJ Stewart (24) singles off the Nationals' starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

New York Yankees right-fielder Aaron Judge (R) hits a two-run homer in the sixth inning of a preseason game against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium in New York City on July 19. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo

The Yankees' starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (C) throws a pitch in the fourth inning. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo

Cardinals pitcher Daniel Ponce de Leon (R) looks at the baseball as Justin Williams runs the bases, hitting a two-run homer during an intrasquad game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 19. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Cardinals third baseman Max Schrock gets under a fly ball. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Indians players celebrate the 5-3 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates with bumping feet at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on July 18. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

A Pirates player receives hand sanitizer as he returns to the dugout. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer throws against the Phillies in the first inning at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on July 18. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Philadelphia's Didi Gregorius (L) celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola throws against the Nationals. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

New York Mets players warm up in the outfield during a workout at Citi Field in New York City on July 17. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo

Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen sits behind cardboard cutouts of fans in the stands. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo

Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom walks to the dugout during a summer camp workout. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter fields a ground ball during an intrasquad game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 16. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller throws during an intrasquad game at the summer training at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on July 16. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

New York Yankees relief pitcher Jonathan Holder pitches in a intrasquad game during summer training workouts at Yankee Stadium in New York City on July 15. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo

Major League Baseball umpires Tim Timmons (L) and Ed Hickox talk between innings of the Cleveland Indians training camp intrasquad game at Progressive Field in Cleveland on July 15. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo

The Washington Nationals' Erick Fedde pitches during an intrasquad game in training camp at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on July 15. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The Nationals' Stephen Strasburg pitches during training camp. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The Nationals' Eric Thames bats during training camp. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals' Tommy Edman (L) tags out Lane Thomas at second base during a team intrasquad game in St. Louis on July 12. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Yankees' Clint Frazier wears a face mask during a spring training workout at Yankee Stadium in New York City on July 11. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka smiles while throwing in the outfield. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

It was announced during the workout that New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman has tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing mild symptoms. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Los Angeles Dodgers' Yimi Garcia crushes the ball over the centerfield wall for a solo home run during an intrasquad game in Los Angeles on July 10. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson (R) celebrates with third base coach Dino Ebel after hitting a solo home run. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt smiles at the dugout during summer camp in St. Louis on July 10. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals, some with masks, watch batting practice. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals' Tyler O'Neill walks back to the dugout after batting practice. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals' Yadier Molina walks to the dugout after an inning of batting practice. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Pirates play a practice game during summer workouts in Pittsburgh on July 10. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Pirates' right fielder Gregory Polanco watches a practice game from the dugout. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals' pitcher Adam Wainwright points to the field as other pitchers watch an intrasquad game. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals' pitcher Kwang-hyun "KK" Kim, walks to the seats to watch an intrasquad game in St. Louis. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals' Dexter Fowler connects during practice in St. Louis on July 7. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco takes batting practice in a light rain during summer workouts at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on July 7. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals' pitcher Brett Cecil throws during batting practice at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 7. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals' Matt Carpenter (L) and Dexter Fowler prepare to take batting practice in St. Louis on July 7. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Cardinals manager Mike Schildt watches batting practice from the dugout. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Nationals' pitcher Stephen Strasburg runs in the outfield during training camp at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on July 7. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Nationals players are seen in the bullpen, some wearing face masks, during training camp. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The Nationals' Anibal Sanchez participates in practice during training camp. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The Indians' Francisco Lindor (L) sprays hand sanitizer on Francona's hands. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals stretch before practice at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 5. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals' Paul DeJong connects during batting practice. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak watches batting batting practice from the stands at Busch Stadium. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals' Dexter Fowler laughs with teammates during batting practice. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Chicago Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward bats in a scrimmage during training camp at Wrigley Field in Chicago on July 4. Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo

Members of the Cubs warm up before playing in a scrimmage game. Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo

The Cubs' left fielder Kyle Schwarber throws the ball during training camp. Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo

A security official wearing a face mask watches from behind a gate at Camden Yards during the Baltimore Orioles' first training camp workout in Baltimore on July 3. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis grins during the team's first training camp workout. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

The Cardinals hold batting practice at the start of the team's first spring training workout at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 3. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Kansas City Royals' hitting coach Terry Bradshaw wears a mask at the start of a training workout during summer camp at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on July 3. Photo by Kyle Rivas/UPI | License Photo

An example cutout of a fan is on display as the Royals take the field at the start of training. Photo by Kyle Rivas/UPI | License Photo

Royals pitcher Greg Holland practices his form. Photo by Kyle Rivas/UPI | License Photo