Chris Denorfia Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2162
AVG	.272
OBP	.33
SLG	.392
HR	41

Full name Christopher Anthony Denorfia
Born 07/15/1980 in Bristol, CT
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Wheaton (MA)
Debut 09/07/2005
Drafted in the 21st round (555th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2002.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

With his September callup, Denorfia ensured his title as the top male athlete in Wheaton (Mass.) College history. He earned Division III all- America honors in 2002, when he batted .467. He doesn't have overwhelming tools, but Denorfia has surprised scouts with his improved hitting and power the last two seasons. He displays a good feel for the strike zone and works counts in his favor. He's a solid runner with enough range to play center field. He's average defensively in center field and he has enough arm strength to play right. Denorfia doesn't have many glaring weaknesses. He doesn't have exceptional bat speed and his swing doesn't naturally produce loft power. He's already getting everything out of his ability, so there isn't much projection left to him. Denorfia is ready to contribute in Cincinnati after a strong Arizona Fall League performance. He may not be more than a fourth outfielder, especially with the Reds' position depth.
Denorfia is the greatest player to come out of Wheaton College, which went from a women's college to a co-ed school in 1987, and the first player drafted from the school. They liken him to former Reds farmhand Brady Clark, though they admit Clark has the better bat due to his power. Denorfia relies on his savvy, patience and average strength, using the whole field and repeating his swing well. He's a good enough baserunner to steal 10-15 bases as well. His spike in home runs in 2004 owed mostly to his experience in the Carolina League, and his power is fringy. His defense will help him get to Cincinnati, as he's an average defender in center field with an above-average arm, the best of a weak lot in the organization and good enough for right field. On a championship team, Denorfia would be a solid fourth outfielder, like Clark. He'll likely be the center fielder in Double-A this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

Denorfia continued to do what he's always done--hit for average, get on base and play good defense--as he spent the season shuttling between the majors and the minors. He saw more time with the Reds after the mid-July trade of Austin Kearns, but Denorfia didn't hit enough to avoid a demotion. His future is probably as a fourth outfielder. Denorfia is a manager's delight because he's an overachiever who plays with passion. He has no one exceptional tool, but he's a disciplined, line-drive hitter who can take the ball up the middle or to the opposite field. He's probably no more than a 15-home run hitter in the majors. "He puts the ball in play and he's a good two-strike hitter," Cliburn said. "We played one series where we couldn't get him out. We'd pitch him away and he'd go the other way. Pitch him in and he'd drive it into the gap." Denorfia has average range in center field and enough arm to play in right. Above-average speed may be Denorfia's strongest tool, and he succeeded in 15 of 16 steal attempts.