ValleyCats HR King Denis Phipps to Return in 2023

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 veteran fan-favorite is set to return for his third season in a ValleyCats uniform after signing with the team prior to 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 highest level as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, to a young ValleyCats lineup.

After earning Frontier League All-Star honors in 2021, Phipps is coming off of a banner year in 2022, a year in which he was the Frontier League’s oldest player. In 94 games played during the 2022 season, the 37-year-old Phipps tallied a .296 batting average with 101 hits, 33 home runs, 21 doubles, 91 runs batted in, 74 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. For the second straight season, Phipps broke the franchise records for total home runs and total runs batted in. His incredibly strong sophomore season with the ValleyCats earned him the Frontier League’s Designated Hitter of the Year Award, along with Frontier League Player of the Week honors for the week of August 16th to August 21st.

Following the completion of the ValleyCats’ 2022 season, Phipps joined the Aragua Tigers of the Venezuelan Winter League. While preparing for the 2023 campaign, the veteran slugger continued his strong 2022 season in Aragua, slashing his way to a .293 batting average with 34 hits, 25 runs batted in, 32 walks, and six home runs in 38 games played for the Tigers. The Tigers were eliminated in the Venezuelan Winter League semifinals by the Sharks of La Guaira earlier this month.

Preparations for season Twenty-FUN of ValleyCats baseball and entertainment in New York’s Capital Region are underway at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. 2023 individual game tickets go on sale at 10 AM EST on Thursday, March 30th. You can secure your seats today and be a part of the excitement by booking a 2023 season ticket plan or group outing! For more information, log on to tcvalleycats.com or call 518-629-CATS.