Kyle Denney
Encyclopedia
Kyle Dean Denney is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. Denney played for the Cleveland Indians
in .
Drafted in the 26th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Cleveland Indians, Denney worked his way through the Indians minor league organization, being named a Eastern League All-star. He made his major league debut on September 14, 2004. He became a free agent after the season and signed with the Washington Nationals
on February 10, , starting
6 games for their Triple-A New Orleans
team. In , Denney played 5 games for the Single-A Lakeland Tigers
of the Detroit Tigers
organization.
Denney is probably best known for a bizarre incident which occurred toward the end of the 2004 season. While riding the team bus after a game in Kansas City
, Denney was struck in the calf by a stray bullet fired by an unknown assailant. He was saved from suffering a more serious injury thanks to the pair of USC
cheerleader boots he was wearing as part of a hazing
ritual.
Denney was also an excellent high school quarterback and basketball guard. He hit a buzzer beater from the opposing team's free throw line during a game against Byng High School.
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. Denney played for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in .
Drafted in the 26th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
by the Cleveland Indians, Denney worked his way through the Indians minor league organization, being named a Eastern League All-star. He made his major league debut on September 14, 2004. He became a free agent after the season and signed with the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
on February 10, , starting
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
6 games for their Triple-A New Orleans
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
team. In , Denney played 5 games for the Single-A Lakeland Tigers
Lakeland Tigers
The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a minor league baseball team based in Lakeland, Florida.Home games are played at Joker Marchant Stadium; opened in 1966 and renovated in 2003. The park, which also doubles as the Detroit Tigers spring training home, seats 8,500 fans...
of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
organization.
Denney is probably best known for a bizarre incident which occurred toward the end of the 2004 season. While riding the team bus after a game in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Denney was struck in the calf by a stray bullet fired by an unknown assailant. He was saved from suffering a more serious injury thanks to the pair of USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
cheerleader boots he was wearing as part of a hazing
Hazing
Hazing is a term used to describe various ritual and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group....
ritual.
Denney was also an excellent high school quarterback and basketball guard. He hit a buzzer beater from the opposing team's free throw line during a game against Byng High School.