He's gotten very mixed reviews through his career.  He still plays second base, but Baseball America insists he's a future left fielder.  He is 5'9, and having just turned 22, still not (too) old for the California league.

The 21st round draft pick in 2003 has progressed slowly.  He made his High-A debut in 2005, and struggled heavily in 31 games.  He struggled again there in 2006, splitting time.  But in 2007, he's batting .294/.369/.450.  While he's repeating a level, it's in a brand new league, as the Dodgers switched from the Florida State League to the California League this year, so that minimizes the 'third time, he'd better do well' excuse.  However, the Brea outfielder coming home reasoning might ring true.

Denker's strength is his bat, and his power.  He's got a very good mix of power and plate discipline.  However, his power has dropped the past three years.  He had 23 HR in 132 games in 2005, 16 in 129 games in 2006 at the same levels, and has just 10 this year in the California league.  However, he has become a better base runner, with a career high 8 stolen bases this year in 10 attempts.  However, he obviously is not going to be a speedster.

Defensively, his reputation has taken a series of hits.  He doesn't have the range to play second, is not smooth at all, and doesn't have a strong arm, according to scouting reports.  He has 13 errors already on the season, having 15 in 2005, and 22 in 2006.  A move to the outfield seems likely, especially with how stacked the Giants system is in infielders, but as an outfielder with a 15-20 HR/year potential and sub-par athleticism, his value takes a dip.

All in all, Denker is a long shot prospect after so many repeats of High-A, and the obvious flaws.  But he stands out in the Giants system as being a power prospect.  If he does move to left fielder, could he become a younger John Bowker, who finally busted out in Double-A after a couple of years scuffling in High-A?  That's not a poor thing, and that's quite a haul for Mark Sweeney.

Denker a lot for giving us this young hitter for Mark "freaking" Sweeney.

Sincerely,
howtheyscored

Denker is 193 lbs, and that's on a 5'9" frame.  I hope to God that the 193 is muscle.