Brian Denman

Brian John Denman (born February 12, 1956 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Boston Red Sox during the 1982 season. Listed at 6' 4", 205 lb., Denman batted and threw right-handed. A 1978 first-round draft pick, he was signed by the Boston team out of the University of Minnesota.

Denman was a highly touted prospect in the Red Sox organization. From 1978 through 1982, he went 51-22 with 428 strikeouts and a 2.69 earned run average in 115 starts at three different minor league levels. He joined the big team in August 1982, and posted a 3-4 record with nine strikeouts and a 4.78 ERA in nine starts, including two complete games and a six-hit, 5-0 shutout over Dave Righetti and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium (on October 2).

Between the minors and major league action, Denman worked 806 innings. From 1983 to 1984, he divided his playing time between Triple-A Pawtucket and Double-A New Britain, combining for a 15-17 mark with a 5.29 ERA in 45 appearances. Signed by the Detroit Tigers before the 1985 season, he pitched two years of minor league ball for Triple-A Nashville.

Minor league highlights

• Led the Bristol Red Sox in victories in 1979 (14) and in victories (15) and ERA (2.44) in 1981
• Named Opening Day starter for the PawSox in 1984

Sources

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Baseball Cube
• Baseball Gauge
• Retrosheet
• Venezuelan Professional Baseball League