A look at the Red Sox organizational depth chart for catching is the name John Denney with the attachment of RL. The RL is short code for Restricted List.
Denney was a third round draft pick in 2013 from Yukon High School in Yukon, Oklahoma. A powerful right-handed hitting catcher who was a first team Rawlings All-America selection.
Denney, who was projected as a first round pick before troubling questions set in, signed a bonus of $875,000 and was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Red Sox where he played in 26 games hitting .203 with no home runs and two RBI.
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Despite that start the 6’ 2” and 210 pound Denney grabbed the 19th rated prospect on Sox Prospects list. His potential plus power, bat speed and athleticism were mentioned. Raw skills that would be refined and somewhere provide that right hand power bat the Red Sox constantly crave as I do cheesecake or butter pecan ice cream.
What went wrong?
On March 13th of 2014 Denney was arrested for driving with a suspended license that was the result of a DUI in high school. Denney became belligerent with the officers and played the “Don’t you know who I am” card. The story by the Globe’s Peter Abraham can be viewed for all the particulars, but that is not the intent of this story. This is about an organization doing the right thing.
Denney did not play in 2014 having been involved with a program the Red Sox designed to address issues that brought him to this particular personal nadir. Where Denney stands at this juncture is a question I have no answer for. Denney is still in the organization and may be at spring training. If so, that will certainly represent a positive step forward.
John Denney has potential as a baseball player. Denney is now 20 years-old and there is much to be said about maturity factors as Denney was certainly not the first young athlete or non-athlete to face some personal demons.
I sincerely hope that Denney has addressed his personal issues and will now be back on track for a productive professional career. I wish him well. The young man deserves a chance and here’s hoping he becomes the feel good story for spring training.