TROY, NY — On Monday, the Tri-City ValleyCats announced the re-signing of reigning Frontier League Designated Hitter of the Year and franchise home run king Denis Phipps. The fan-favorite veteran is set to return for his third season in a ValleyCats uniform after signing with the team ahead of the 2021 season, their inaugural season as a member of the Frontier League of Professional Baseball. Phipps’ veteran presence brings 16 seasons of professional baseball experience, including a stint at baseball’s top tier as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, to a young ValleyCats team.
Denis Phipps last September:
“I don’t know. I don’t know. Winter ball season at home, I don’t know if it’s going to be my last. There’s a lot going on at my house with my family and the baseball academy. We’ll see.”
King ‘Cats HR is back.
— Kyle Adams (@kasportsnews) January 30, 2023
After earning Frontier League All-Star honors in 2021, Phipps is coming off a banner year in 2022, a year in which he was the oldest player in the Frontier League. In 94 games played during the 2022 season, Phipps, 37, had a .296 batting average with 101 hits, 33 homers, 21 doubles, 91 RBI, 74 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. For the second straight season, Phipps broke franchise records for total home runs and total runs completed. His incredibly strong second season with the ValleyCats earned him the Frontier League Designated Hitter of the Year award, as well as Frontier League Player of the Week honors. for the week of August 16 to August 21.
At the end of the ValleyCats’ 2022 season, Phipps joined the Aragua Tigres of the Venezuelan Winter League. While preparing for the 2023 campaign, the veteran slugger continued his strong 2022 season at Aragua, working his way to a .293 batting average with 34 hits, 25 RBIs, 32 walks and six home runs for 38. games played for the Tigers. . The Tigers were knocked out in the semi-finals of the Venezuelan Winter League by La Guaira Sharks earlier this month.
It’s time for a @curtislumber Build the list update, and this one is BIG!
Denis Phipps, fan favorite and HR king of the ValleyCats franchise, is set to return in 2023! The reigning @FLProBaseball DH of the Year is set for its third season at #LeJoe!#VamosGatos #Forthe518 pic.twitter.com/FVZ9uSSQRT
— Tri-City ValleyCats (@ValleyCats) January 30, 2023
Preparations for the Twenty-FUN season of ValleyCats baseball and entertainment in the New York Capital Region are underway at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. Tickets for individual games in 2023 go on sale at 10:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 30. You can reserve your seats today and be part of the excitement by booking a 2023 season pass or a group outing! For more information, log on to tcvalleycats.com or call 518-629-CATS.