Former Wheaton baseball star Denorfia promoted to Triple-A Louisville Bats in fourth year of Cincinnati Reds organization

June 16, 2005

NORTON, MA- Former Wheaton College baseball star Chris Denorfia (Southington, CT/Choate-Rosemary School) has made the most of his opportunities within the Cincinnati Reds organization since being selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft in June of 2002, most notably coming in the form of his recent promotion to the Triple-A Louisville Bats.

Since being called up to the Bats on May 26, Denorfia has had an immediate impact, as evidenced by his outstanding .383 batting average and current nine-game hitting streak. In his short time in Louisville, Denorfia has already been selected Minor League Baseball "Star of the Day" after posting a career-high tying five runs batted in alongside his first Triple-A home run in a 6-1 victory over Charlotte on June 8. He went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and a two-run single.

A NCAA Division III All-America outfielder during his stellar four-year career at Wheaton, Denorfia reached the Triple-A benchmark in just his fourth year with the Reds. Not bad for a 19th-round selection, as Denorfia caught the attention of many beginning with his first tour of duty with the Gulf Coast League Reds in Sarasota, Florida. Despite the quick rise by the Reds farmhand, Wheaton head coach Eric Podbelski isn't the least bit surprised of Denorfia's recent success.

"First and foremost, we're very happy for Chris," said Podbelski. "The chance to play at the professional level is something he has aspired to since he arrived on Wheaton's campus and probably well before. The fact that he is experiencing success is of no surprise to those of us who saw him play here. His love for playing the game and the work he puts in to making himself better are traits he had at Wheaton and they will serve him well for his entire career."

In his first year in the professional ranks, Denorfia was among the league leaders in several categories, including second in on-base percentage (.425), third in batting average (.340), and fourth in hits (68) and runs (38). Based on his performance through 57 games in the Gulf Coast League, Denorfia was one of just four players called up to play for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. After batting .429 with two doubles and one triple in seven games with the Lookouts, the Reds reassigned Denorfia to fill a roster vacancy for the Single-A Dayton Dragons.

Following an invitation to the Instructional League in Florida from late September to late October of 2002, Denorfia's standing as one of the Reds top prospects allowed him the opportunity to play for the High-A Potomac Cannons during the 2003 season. Denorfia stayed with Potomac the entire year and returned to the Cannons for the 2004 season, where he exploded onto the scene to hit .312 with 11 home runs, 51 RBI and 10 stolen bases. It was at that year's all-star game between the Carolina and California Leagues that Denorfia learned of his promotion to Chattanooga.

"We're very proud of what Chris is doing," stated Podbelski. "It goes to show that you don't have to play at a big name Division I University to get the opportunity to further your baseball career. Like we tell our recruits, go to the college that fits you best, the one that feels right, and that's the school at which you will thrive. Chris is proof of that."

Denorfia didn't miss a beat heading into the 2005 season, appearing in 14 major league spring training games with a pair of runs scored and a RBI. From there, he made a return to Chattanooga and batted .330 with an impressive .564 slugging percentage, 40 runs, 26 RBI, 17 doubles, seven home runs and three triples in 46 games before being called up to Louisville. In 18 games with the Bats, the 24-year old has posted a .517 slugging percentage with a .424 on-base percentage, 12 RBI, eight runs, a pair of home runs and two doubles.

Denorfia is scheduled to make a homecoming to New England in mid-July, when Louisville will travel to Pawtucket, Rhode Island to face the Paw Sox in a four-game night series beginning on Monday, July 18. Regularly playing in front of thousands of fans, Denorfia is certain to have a vast array of Wheaton supporters on hand watching him play in the region for the first time since the 2002 New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) All-Star game at Fenway Park. Podbelski is certain to be there and would like nothing more than to continue to see Denorfia shine.

"We're rooting for Chris to continue in the system," commented Podbelski. "He would be the first to tell you that he has to keep getting better and keep progressing, as nothing is ever assured in professional baseball. You're only as good as your recent performance until you have established yourself over a number of years. He just needs to continue working hard and enjoying the opportunity to play baseball, and the rest will take care of itself one way or another."

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