DeShields, the eldest of his father's five children, was raised in the Atlanta area. He went to Woodward Academy, where he played both baseball and football. In his senior year at Woodward, he hit 9 home runs and batted.415, while stealing 29 bases. He was recruited by the Georgia Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels for football before deciding to pursue baseball instead. He was also recruited by the LSU Tigers for baseball, but they only committed a half-scholarship to him due to his desire to play professionally.
At the 2014 Winter Meetings, the Texas Rangers selected DeShields from the Astros in the Rule 5 draft. DeShields made the Rangers' Opening Day roster. He recorded his first major league hit in the 8th inning on an infield single against Dan Otero of the Oakland Athletics on April 8. On June 3, 2015, DeShields was named American League Rookie of the Month for May after batting.296 for the month and scoring 22 runs. On August 14, he would hit his first Major League home run against Tampa Bay. After the 2015 season, DeShields changed his uniform number from 7 to 3. After the completion of the 2015 season, DeShields finished in 7th place in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, with one third place vote. He was voted as the Texas Rangers' Rookie of the Year by fellow players and coaches. DeShields would begin the 2016 season as the Rangers' starting center fielder, but would eventually lose his job to Ian Desmond for inconsistency and be demoted to Triple-A Round Rock. DeShields would finish with a.209 batting average, 4 home runs and 13 RBIs with 8 stolen bases in 74 games. Deshields would make the 2017 Opening Day roster. On April 21, 2017, he hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 13th inning in a game against the Kansas City Royals. On March 31, 2018, DeShields experienced pain in his left hand after swinging. He was diagnosed with a broken hamate bone in the left hand, ruling him out for four to six weeks. DeShields ended the season with a.216 batting average with 2 home runs and 20 stolen bases. In 2019, he hit.249/.325/.347/.672 with 4 home runs, 32 RBI, and 24 stolen bases.
Cleveland Indians
On December 15, 2019, the Rangers traded DeShields and Emmanuel Clase to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Corey Kluber and cash considerations.
Awards
DeShields was given the 2018 Texas Rangers Harold McKinney Good Guy Award by the DFW BBWAA chapter for the 2018 season.
Personal life
DeShields is the son of former MLB player Delino DeShields. His sister, Diamond DeShields, is a professional basketball player in the WNBA. DeShields has a paternal half-brother and two paternal half-sisters. DeShields was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, possession of alcohol by a minor and a traffic violation in Georgia on January 16, 2011. He was released on $2,500 bail and charged with the three misdemeanors. On July 3, 2020, it was announced that DeShields had tested positive for COVID-19.
