Dan DeMent

Daniel Kevin DeMent

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 191 lb.
• School University of Alabama at Birmingham
• High School Providence Catholic High School

• Born June 17, 1978 in Palos Heights, IL USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Dan DeMent spent parts of two seasons at AAA despite being undrafted out of college, then went into coaching.

DeMent signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after finishing college and broke into the pro ranks on a strong note, hitting .301/.398/.485 with 48 runs in 60 games for the 2000 Princeton Devil Rays. He finished 8th in the Appalachian League in batting average. A shortstop-second baseman, he was named the Appy's All-Star DH, an honor he shared with Rafael Boitel. The player no one wanted to draft had tied for the league lead in runs as well.

In 2001, Dan split time between the Bakersfield Blaze (1 for 17, BB) and Charleston RiverDogs (.269/.326/.447). He played at least 20 games at second base, third base and the outfield and also appeared at shortstop. He smacked 11 triples yet was just 6-for-20 in steal attempts. The utility man led all Devil Rays farmhands in three-baggers, tied for 8th in the affiliated minors.

DeMent returned to Bakersfield, this time for a full season, in 2002 and hit .264/.319/.375. He made 34 errors in his utility role. As a 2B/3B for the 2003 Orlando Rays in AA, Dan batted .255/.331/.350 with 22 doubles in 349 AB. He also pitched one game, allowing four runs in one inning. With the 2004 Montgomery Biscuits, he hit .256/.318/.443 with 7 triples, four behind Southern League leader Dwaine Bacon.

The Washington Nationals took DeMent in the minor league Rule 5 Draft. He split 2005 between the Harrisburg Senators (.328/.378/.538 in 71 G) and New Orleans Zephyrs (.313/.386/.429 in 56 G). Despite his fine hitting at AA and AAA, he did not make the majors and never would. He smacked 30 doubles and 14 homers that season. He played every position except catcher as well.

In 2006, DeMent repeated with Harrisburg (.234/.322/.426, 18 HR) and New Orleans (.173/.235/.266 in 22 G), totaling 20 dingers on the year. He had a regular position for the first time since his rookie year, manning second base for the Senators. The Illinois native concluded his playing career with the 2007 Senators, hitting .280/.354/.435 while playing 1B, 2B, 3B, RF, LF and P.

DeMent produced at a .268/.337/.427 line in 864 games in the minors. He also allowed 15 hits and 10 earned runs in eight innings pitched.

After retiring, DeMent returned to the Rays' organization in 2009 as the infield coach for the Princeton Rays. He then served two year terms as a hitting coach with the GCL Rays in 2010-2011, Hudson Valley Renegades 2012-2013 Bowling Green Hot Rods in 2014-2015, Montgomery Biscuits in 2016-2017, and Durham Bulls in 2018-2019. Following the 2015 season, he also served as the hitting coach for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. Continuing the two year pattern, in 2020-2021 DeMent served as the team's minor league hitting coordinator. He finally reached the major leagues in 2022 when he was promoted to assistant hitting coach with the Tampa Bay Rays, sharing the job with Brady North. He returned to this same role in 2023. DeMent returned to the minors as hitting coach of the Gwinnett Stripers in 2024.