Gary Denbo
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (March 2008) |
| Gary Denbo | |
|---|---|
| File:GD Headshot.jpg Gary Denbo | |
| Free Agent | |
| Coach (baseball) | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| debut | |
| April 2, 2001, for the NY Yankees as Hitting Coach |
Gary B. Denbo (b. December 9 1960, Princeton, Indiana) is the former Major League Hitting Coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was fired on June 20, 2008 along with Manager John Gibbons, Third Base Coach Marty Pevey, and First Base Coach Ernie Whitt.
Drafted as an infielder by the Cincinnati Reds in 1983, Denbo played four seasons in the Minor leagues before entering the coaching ranks. He made his Major League debut on April 2, 2001 as the Hitting Coach for the New York Yankees.
Denbo has been instrumental in developing the hitting talents of several players as they developed into major league caliber hitters; including Derek Jeter, Mike Lowell, Alfonso Soriano, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, and Tino Martinez. He is known throughout professional baseball for his preparedness and attention to detail in developing team and individual hitting plans, as well as for his ability to make hitting slumps more short lived by using video and computer analysis of the baseball swing to quickly identify and correct flaws.
His team successes as a coach and as a player have been widespread, having been a part of championships at every level in professional baseball. Denbo is a well respected teacher and clinician regarding the mechanics of the baseball swing and the mental approach of a hitter.
Coaching
Gary Denbo took his first coaching position in 1986 as a Player-coach for the Reds Double-A club in Vermont. He spent fourteen seasons coaching in the New York Yankees organization, primarily as a hitting instructor, including the 2001 season as the Yankees Major League Hitting Coach and six seasons as the organization’s Hitting Coordinator. Additionally, Denbo spent three seasons as the Major League Hitting Coach for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Japan Pacific League (Nippon Professional Baseball).
Championship Seasons
Whether as a player, a coach, or an organization's hitting coordinator, Gary Denbo has been a part of championships at every level of professional baseball; from Rookie Ball to the World Series champion Yankees in 2000. Additionally, Denbo served as the Hitting Coach for the American League All-star team in the 2001 All-star game in Seattle.
| Year | Team | Position | Championship Title(s) | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | New York Yankees | Hitting Coach | AL East Division, AL Pennant | Major League |
| 2000 | New York Yankees | Hitting Coordinator | AL East Division, AL Pennant,World Series Champions | Major League |
| 1998 | New York Yankees | Hitting Coordinator | AL East Division Title, AL Pennant,World Series Champions | Major League |
| 1996 | Columbus Clippers | Hitting Coach | International League Champions | Triple-A |
| 1991 | Columbus Clippers | Hitting Coach | International League Champions | Triple-A |
| 1988 | Cedar Rapids Reds | Hitting Coach | Midwest League Champions | Class A |
| 1986 | Vermont Reds | Player-coach | Eastern League Champions | Double-A |
| 1983 | Billings Mustangs | Player | Pioneer League Champions | Rookie |
Career Timeline
External links
- Denbo Hitting Clinic Info
- Blue Jays Press Release/Denbo Hired Retrieved on 2007-10-09
- Blue Jays Press Release/Unselfish Hitters Retrieved on 2007-10-12
- Blue Jays Coach put Lowell back in swing Retrieved from CBS Sports on 2008-5-6
- The Wisdom of Mike Lowell Retrieved from globeandmail.com on 2007-10-11
- Denbo says Soriano developing plate discipline Retrieved from cnnsi.com on 2001-5-18
- Online Hitting Academy/Denbo Retrieved on 2007-10-12