Denis Phipps

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Denis Phipps

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 6' 2", Weight 177 lb.

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Biographical Information[edit]

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Outfielder Denis Phipps made it to the majors in 2012.

He was signed by the Cincinnati Reds and scout Juan Peralta in May 2004. He made his debut that summer with the DSL Reds, hitting a deplorable .163/.285/.252. With the same club in 2005, he improved to .263/.372/.365 and stole 20 bases in 27 tries. He came to the United States in 2006 and split time between the GCL Reds (.280/.324/.409 in 43 G) and Billings Mustangs (.315/.367/.426 in 17 G). In 2007, he had 12 assists and 9 errors in right field for the Dayton Dragons while posting a .238/.313/.338 batting line and swiping 18 bases in 24 attempts.

With the Dragons again in 2008, he hit .255/.307/.357 with 7 home runs and 13 outfield assists. In the winter, he was 2 for 10 for the Estrellas de Oriente. The following year, he batted just .239/.288/.385 for the Sarasota Reds and was 0 for 4 for the Carolina Mudcats. He did steal 18 bases in 26 attempts and hit 32 doubles while having 19 assists. He was second to Kirk Nieuwenhuis in the Florida State League in doubles and was second in at-bats (497), trailing Neftali Soto. His 134 games played led the FSL. He also led league outfielders with 19 assists and 6 double plays. In winter ball, he was 1 for 17 for the Estrellas.

In 2010, Phipps again hit 32 doubles. He played for the Lynchburg Hillcats (.333/.398/.720 in 25 G, 23 R, 21 RBI) and Carolina Mudcats (.228/.295/.336 in 104 G). He made 10 errors for Carolina, tying Carlos Peguero for the Southern League lead. He went 6 for 27 with a double and 3 walks for Oriente.

After seven relatively unimpressive seasons, Phipps made major strides in 2011. Splitting the year between the AA Carolina Mudcats (.328/.382/.502 in 82 G) and AAA Louisville Bats (.380/.428/.576 in 40 G), he hit .346/.397/.527 with 34 doubles, 83 runs, 7 triples and 12 homers between the two clubs and was the Reds Minor League Hitter of the Year. He led the Cincinnati farm chain in batting average and total bases (244). Baseball America said he had the best outfield arm in the SL. He had 13 assists to 3 errors in the field. He was named to the SL All-Star outfield alongside A.J. Pollock, Alfredo Silverio and Scott Van Slyke. He continued his success in the Dominican League, batting .297/.403/.436 and leading Oriente in OBP and walks (16). He was third in average on the club behind Donell Linares and Pablo Ozuna. Joining the Leones del Escogido for the 2012 Caribbean Series, he went 2 for 8 as a backup behind Jose Constanza, Andy Dirks and Julio Borbon as his team won the title.

That summer, he hit only .221/.293/.401 with 15 home runs in 92 games for Louisville, battling a dislocated shoulder and striking out in 103 of 357 AB. He still was a September call-up to the Reds. In his major league debut, he pinch-hit for J.J. Hoover in the 8th and drew a walk from Justin De Fratus, only to be erased on a double play grounder by Zack Cozart.

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