Denis Phipps

Dominican baseball player (born 1985)

Baseball player
Denis Phipps
Phipps batting for the Dayton Dragons, single-A affiliates of the Cincinnati Reds, in 2008
Outfielder
Born: (1985-07-22) July 22, 1985 (age 39)
San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 3, 2012, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 2012, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
Batting average.300
Home runs1
Runs batted in2
Teams
  • Cincinnati Reds (2012)

Denis Phipps (born July 22, 1985) is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds in 2012.

Career

Cincinnati Reds

He was called up to the majors for the first time on September 1, 2012.[1] Phipps hit the first homer of his Major League career, a two-run shot against the Los Angeles Dodgers' Ronald Belisario on September 23, 2012.

He played in the Dominican Professional Baseball League six seasons with Estrellas Orientales before joining Leones del Escogido for the 2013/14 season, after posting in 17 games an average of .220.[2] He won the 2012 Caribbean Series with Leones del Escogido, playing as a reinforcement and on loan from Estrellas Orientales.[3]

Chicago White Sox

Phipps started the 2014 season with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. He was released by the White Sox on May 9, 2014.[4]

Broncos de Reynosa

On May 28, 2014, Phipps signed with the Broncos de Reynosa of the Mexican League.[5] He played the second half of the 2014 season with the team, hitting .212 in 8 games before he was released on July 17.[6]

Laredo Lemurs

Phipps subsequently joined the Laredo Lemurs of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball[7] With the team, he accumulated a .335 with 15 home runs and 15 doubles[8] but was unable to reach the championship series, losing to Wichita in the semifinal round.[9]

Phipps returned to Laredo in 2015, ending the year with a .336 batting average, 17 home runs, 24 doubles, 76 RBI and a league–leading 127 hits.[10] He was selected to the league's post season all-star team.[11]

In the offseason, Phipps initially signed in the Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League with Gigantes de Rivas[12] but later joined the Caribes de Anzoátegui from the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League in November 2015 after posting a .205 batting average in 11 games.[13] He debuted on 21 November 2015 and contributed with his team until losing in the playoffs.[14] He finished the season batting .316 with 6 home runs and 4 doubles.[2]

Acereros de Monclova

On February 17, 2016, Phipps signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. Before being released on May 24,[10] he played 44 games and slashed .221/.262/.442 with eight home runs and 23 RBI.[15]

Laredo Lemurs (second stint)

Phipps returned to the Laredo Lemurs of the American Association in 2016, marking his third season with the team. He was later chosen to play the 2016 American Association All-Star Game as a designated hitter.[16] Phipps played 92 games for Laredo, slashing .280/.364/.538 with 24 home runs,[17] 62 RBI, and 21 stolen bases.[8] He was the second player in the league who recorded at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases.[18]

Phipps returned to the Venezuelan league with Caribes de Anzoátegui during the offseason,[15] winning the Producer of the Year award and was third in the Most Valuable Player voting,[19] when he batted .327 with 11 home runs, 40 RBI and 46 runs scored.[20] Phipps was unsuccessful with Caribes in the playoffs, aside from his three home runs and 12 RBI. He later played the league's finals with the Cardenales de Lara, but lost to Águilas del Zulia in the championship. Phipps was also chosen to play the 2017 Caribbean Series with Zulia.[21]

On April 20, 2017, Phipps re–signed with Laredo for his fourth season with the team.[22] However, on May 8, Phipps became a free agent when the Lemurs folded.[23]

Texas AirHogs

On May 17, 2017, Phipps signed with the Texas AirHogs of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, finishing the season having played in 86 games with 18 doubles and a team–leading .314 average, 10 home runs and 58 runs batted in.[24][25] He later began the offseason with Anzoátegui, but was released in early November 2017 after hitting .123,[26] and later returned to the Nicaraguan league with the Gigantes de Rivas.[25]

Sugar Land Skeeters

On January 16, 2018, Phipps was traded to the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball,[27] and officially signed with the team on May 14. In 98 games for the Skeeters, he hit .265/.344/.396 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, and six stolen bases. Phipps became a free agent following the season. That offseason, Phipps helped the Gigantes de Rivas reach the Nicaraguan league final series, but they lost to the Tigres de Chinandega 2–3.[28]

On April 15, 2019, Phipps re-signed with Sugar Land, ultimately playing in 124 games and slashing .261/.350/.458 with 21 home runs and 81 RBI. He became a free agent following the season. Phipps later returned to play for the Caribes de Anzoátegui of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League during the offseason.

On January 17, 2020, Phipps re-signed with the Skeeters for a third consecutive year. He did not play in a game for Sugar Land due to the cancellation of the Atlantic League season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[29] Phipps became a free agent in the offseason.

Tri-City ValleyCats

On February 24, 2021, Phipps signed with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Frontier League. In 93 games, Phipps slashed .277/.354/.524 with 21 home runs and 62 RBI. He became a free agent following the season.

Lexington Legends

On September 18, 2021, Phipps signed with the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[30] In 21 games for the Legends, he batted .275/.344/.375 with two home runs, seven RBI, and four stolen bases. Phipps became a free agent after the season.

Tri-City ValleyCats (second stint)

On November 21, 2021, Phipps re-signed with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Frontier League for the 2022 season.[31] After slashing .296/.398/.648 33 home runs, 91 RBI, and 10 stolen bases, Phipps was awarded the Frontier League's Designated Hitter of the Year honors for 2022.[32]

It was announced on January 30, 2023, that Phipps would return to the ValleyCats for the 2023 season.[32] However, on March 3, Phipps was traded to the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[33] He did not play professionally in 2023,[34] and became a free agent after the season.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Baker to use September callups cautiously". MLB.com.
  2. ^ a b Briceño, Pedro G. (February 3, 2017). "Denis Phipps, un exiliado Liga Dominicana de Béisbol". Listin Diario (in Spanish). Culiacan, Mexico. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  3. ^ Venn, David (February 4, 2017). "Denis Phipps disfruta su renacer en el béisbol invernal en Venezuela" (in Spanish). Culiacan, Mexico: MLB. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  4. ^ "Denis Phipps es dado de baja". Listin Diario (in Spanish). San Pedro de Macorís. May 11, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  5. ^ "Broncos refuerza ofensiva: llegan Castillo y Phipps" (in Spanish). Reynosa, Tamaulipas: Puro Beisbol. May 28, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  6. ^ "Broncos refuerza ofensiva: ¡Wilkin Castillo y Denis Phipps a la frontera!" (in Spanish). Reynosa, Tamaulipas: El Reportero de Tamaulipas. May 28, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  7. ^ Ballesteros, Fernando (June 22, 2014). "Fernando Ballesteros" (in Spanish). Puro Beisbol. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Denis Phipps". American Association Baseball. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  9. ^ "Wichita returning to Championship series". American Association Baseball. September 7, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Monclova contrata a cañonero dominicano Phipps" (in Spanish). Mexico City: Milenio. February 16, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  11. ^ Maslowsky, Tara (September 7, 2015). "Heisler, Mazzola and Haerther selected all-stars". Winnipeg Goldeyes. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  12. ^ Hernandez, Gerald (October 27, 2015). "Phipps a tapar hueco de Yurendell". La Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  13. ^ Hernandez, Gerald (November 20, 2015). "Gigantes pierden a Phipps, pero esperan a De Caster". La Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  14. ^ "Caribes obtuvo su primera victoria en el playoff a costa de Tiburones". Noticias 24 (in Spanish). Puerto La Cruz. January 7, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Caribes repetirá a Denis Phipps y al derecho Patrick Johnson" (in Spanish). LVBP. September 7, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  16. ^ "Four Saltdogs named to 2016 A.A. All Star Team". Laredo Morning Times. Lincoln. July 25, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  17. ^ "Leaders American Association - Season: AA Reg season 2016". American Association Baseball. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  18. ^ Schuster, Steve (February 1, 2017). "Return of the King – Abercrombie On Board for 2017". Lincoln: Winnipeg Goldeyes. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  19. ^ Bueno, Hector (February 2, 2017). "Denis Phipps: "Es un honor reforzar a Águilas"". Líder en deportes (in Spanish). Caracas. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  20. ^ Ribeiro, Verónica (January 31, 2017). "DENIS PHIPPS: "LA TERCERA ES LA VENCIDA"". LVBP (in Spanish). Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  21. ^ "Denis Phipps entre refuerzos Venezuela". Listin Diario (in Spanish). Maracaibo, Venezuela. January 29, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  22. ^ Davis, Zach (March 29, 2017). "Lemurs re-sign stars in offseason". Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  23. ^ Davis, Zach (June 11, 2017). "Bad luck surrounding former Lemurs in 2017". Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  24. ^ "2017 Season Recap". Texas Air Hogs. September 26, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Ex grandes ligas Denis Phipps regresa con Rivas en la Profesional". Nueva Radio YA (in Spanish). November 29, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  26. ^ Amaya, Wilson (November 20, 2015). "Caribes despidió de la tribu a Denis Phipps". RNV (in Spanish). Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  27. ^ Pannier, Robert (January 18, 2018). "Sugar Land Skeeters Must Have Prospects Growing on Trees". Minor League Sports Report. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  28. ^ Tijerino, Edgard (January 18, 2018). "Tigres escalan la montaña". El Nuevo Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  29. ^ "Independent Atlantic League cancels season due to virus". AP NEWS. June 19, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  30. ^ Atlantic League Transactions
  31. ^ "Transactions – Frontier League". Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  32. ^ a b "ValleyCats HR King Denis Phipps to Return in 2023".
  33. ^ "2023 Transactions". frontierleague.com.
  34. ^ "Denis Phipps Minor, Mexican, & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  • Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet