Chris Denorfia
Encyclopedia
Christopher Anthony Denorfia (born July 15, 1980, in Bristol, Connecticut
) is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the San Diego Padres
.
in Massachusetts
, Denorfia was the Cincinnati Reds
19th round pick in the 2002 MLB Draft. Is a graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall
.
on his right elbow in March of after tearing a ligament
during an exhibition game.
On April 27, 2007, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Marcus McBeth
, Ben Jukich, and cash. He missed the entire 2007 season, but returned in , making Oakland's opening day roster. After 2009 spring training
camp, he was sent to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats
.
Denorfia played for Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
.
On December 16, 2009, Denforia signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres
and received an invitation to Spring Training.
Denorfia started 2010 in the Padres system, playing the outfield for the Portland Beavers. He was called up on May 17 to replace the injured Scott Hairston. He pinch hit that same night, hitting a single. He is currently in the outfield rotation in San Diego, hitting .333 with 3 HR as of May 22, 2011.
Bristol, Connecticut
Bristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 61,353. Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN, whose central studios are in the city. Bristol is also home to...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
.
Early life
A graduate of Wheaton CollegeWheaton College (Massachusetts)
Wheaton College is a four-year, private liberal arts college with an approximate student body of 1,550. Wheaton's residential campus is located in Norton, Massachusetts, between Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1834 as a female seminary, it is one of the oldest...
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Denorfia was the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
19th round pick in the 2002 MLB Draft. Is a graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall
Choate Rosemary Hall
Choate Rosemary Hall is a private, college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school located in Wallingford, Connecticut...
.
Baseball career
Chris reached the major leagues with the Reds in . He also saw time with Cincinnati in . Denorfia had Tommy John surgeryTommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
on his right elbow in March of after tearing a ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
during an exhibition game.
On April 27, 2007, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Marcus McBeth
Marcus McBeth
Marcus Andre McBeth is a right-handed professional baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent...
, Ben Jukich, and cash. He missed the entire 2007 season, but returned in , making Oakland's opening day roster. After 2009 spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
camp, he was sent to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
.
Denorfia played for Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
.
On December 16, 2009, Denforia signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
and received an invitation to Spring Training.
Denorfia started 2010 in the Padres system, playing the outfield for the Portland Beavers. He was called up on May 17 to replace the injured Scott Hairston. He pinch hit that same night, hitting a single. He is currently in the outfield rotation in San Diego, hitting .333 with 3 HR as of May 22, 2011.
Personal life
Denorfia has established himself as a fan favorite in San Diego, where he is respected for his ability to consistently hit for average and his aggressive outfield style. He is featured in a YouTube parody video of Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now", entitled "Look at Deno", where a highlight reel of diving catches and keen offense are on display.External links
- No 13. - MLN FAB50 Baseball 2006 - Minor League News