The New York Yankees need another outfielder in the
organization like they need another hole in the head but that didn’t stop the
team from making another minor league signing this week for one. This time the
Yankees added outfielder Chris Denorfia on a minor league deal with an
invitation to spring training this week so we’ll introduce him to the Yankees
family the only way that we know how. This is Meet a Prospect: The Chris
Denorfia Edition.
Christopher Anthony Denorfia was born on July 15, 1980 and
if he makes the New York Yankees he will be playing for his sixth MLB franchise
during his career. Denorfia’s amateur career began in Connecticut where he was
born and attended Choate Rosemary Hall High School. Denorfia played second base
and shortstop in high school until moving to the outfield in college at Wheaton
College where he caught the attention of MLB scouts. Denorfia hit .467 in his
senior year and did enough for the Cincinnati Reds to come calling with the 19th
pick in the 2002 MLB First Year Players Draft.
Denorfia toiled around the minor leagues until reaching the
Major Leagues as a September call up in 2005 with the Reds. Denorfia stuck
around for the month of September and for 49 games in 2006 as he bounced around
between Triple-A and Cincinnati before having Tommy John surgery on his elbow
in 2007 costing him a year of development. While rehabbing from the surgery he
was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Marcus McBeth, Ben Jukich and cash
considerations despite missing the entire season. Denorfia was back in 2008 and
even made the A’s Opening Day roster as a center fielder before a back injured
derailed his season in early May. Denorfia did not return to the majors that
season until rosters expanded again in September of 2008 getting just 62
at-bats for the A’s. Denorfia only played in four games for the big league A’s
in 2009 before the team decided to remove him from their 40-man roster at the
end of the season. Denorfia was a free agent for the first time in his career.
In December of 2009 Denorfia signed a minor league deal with
the San Diego Padres and much like with his current Yankees deal he received an
invitation to spring training camp. Denorfia did not make the team out of camp
and was once again optioned to Triple-A but he was not down for long as the
Padres called him in on May, 17 of that season to replace an injured Scott
Hairston. Denorfia remained with the Padres for the remainder of the season and
finished the season with a .271 average with nine home runs in 44 games. Denorfia
remained with the Padres for the 2011 season after signing a new one-year deal
and for the first time Denorfia got a full season to prove himself playing in
111 games for San Diego. Denorfia signed a similar one-year deal for the 2012
season as well with the Padres and played in a whopping 130 games that got him
an extension with San Diego through the 2014 season. Finally some security for
Denorfia.
Denorfia rewarded San Diego once again for their patience
with him in 2013 playing in 144 games and by putting up a .279/.337/.395 triple
slash. Denorfia also won the Padres Defensive Player of the Year Award and the
team’s Heart & Hustle Award for the month of September leaving his mark in
Padres history. Denorfia was traded to the Seattle Mariners on July 31, 2014
for minor league outfielder Abraham Almonte and pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen
ending his tenure in San Diego and ending his tenure of hitting inside Petco
Park.
Denorfia signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs for
the 2015 season before coming to New York for the 2016 season. Denorfia has
represented Team Italy in the 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classic and will now
represent, in my very bias yet humble opinion, the greatest MLB franchise this
world has ever seen. Welcome to the team Chris and more importantly, welcome to
the family.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)