Chris Denorfia

[Brandon Glick]

Chris Denorfia is a former professional baseball outfielder who spent 10 years in Major League Baseball, including the 2015 season with the Chicago Cubs.

Originally drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 19th round of the 2002 MLB Draft out of Wheaton College (Division III), Denorfia made his MLB debut in 2005 after steadily climbing the minor league ranks. He played two years for the Reds before needing Tommy John surgery on his elbow in 2007, which would get him sent to the Oakland Athletics later that year. He struggled to get playing time with the A's, who released him after the 2009 season.

Subsequently, Denorfia signed with the San Diego Padres, where had the most successful tenure of his career. He spent parts of five seasons with the Friars, establishing himself as an above-average hitter and solid glove at all three outfield spots. He was dealt to the Seattle Mariners at the 2014 trade deadline, failing to make much of an impact as the team fell just one game short of making the postseason.

Upon reaching free agency, Denorfia signed a one-year deal with the Cubs for the 2015 season. He was mostly used by Joe Maddon as a late-inning defensive replacement, appearing in 103 games but drawing just 212 at-bats. On the season, he hit .269/.319/.373, good for an 89 wRC+ and 0.4 fWAR. Notably, in the final regular season home game of the year, Denorfia became the first pinch-hitter in history to hit a walk-off home run that served as the only run in the game.

Of course, the Cubs made the postseason in 2015, which was the first and only time Denorfia ever got to play in October. Unfortunately, he went hitless in six plate appearances, though he did offer important glove work late in games.

After 2015, the veteran outfielder had minor league stints with the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies, though he never returned to the major leagues after leaving the Cubs. He retired following the 2017 season and became a special assistant in the Cubs' front office. He also served as a quality assurance coach with the team before leaving to become manager of the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies' Double-A affiliate), a role he held until 2024.

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