It’s not easy to be shuffled around the field, frequently adjusting to a different position. But for Hogan Denny, he’s made the most of every opportunity this season.
In just his first collegiate season, Denny has burst onto the scene, doing a tremendous job at playing in three different positions. Denny has made appearances at second base, right field and left field, despite ranking as Perfect Game’s No. 1 catcher in the state of Indiana in his recruiting class.
Denny’s strong defensive abilities have allowed Indiana head coach Jeff Mercer to keep Denny in the lineup each game.
Mercer applauded Denny for his ability to move from position to position.
“We’ve asked him to catch, play third base, play second base, play right field and be a great hitter,” Mercer said when speaking about Denny. “We’ve asked him to do a lot, but he’s capable of it.”
Most recently, Denny has seen time in right field with the absence of Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins was sidelined for the entirety of Indiana’s recent series against Michigan State with a foot injury. His return is unknown.
Denny started in right field in the first two games of the Michigan State series, playing designated hitter in the series finale.
In game one of the three-game series, Denny made several great catches in right field. In addition to his defensive performance, Denny continues to swing the bat nicely, hitting 1-for-3 in the contest, scoring a run and walking once.
A key factor in Denny’s recent success with Indiana’s program can be tied to his mindset.
Mercer provided some insight on what differentiates Denny from other players.
“He’s going to be a great player here for a long time and he’s going to be a great leader,” Mercer said. “That comes from toughness and aptitude and adjustability and, ‘What’s the team need me to do today for us to win?’ He’s a winner and he helps you win and when you have guys like that, it’s contagious.”
Across 60 at-bats, Denny is batting .267, having homered three times while scoring 15 runs and driving in nine runs.
Moving away from a primary position can be extremely difficult to deal with. Denny’s natural ability to be a team player has helped Indiana, which has started Big Ten play 9-6, good for fifth place in the conference as of Tuesday. Denny explained his thoughts behind switching positions.
“(I) do whatever I can to put my best foot forward and help this team win,” Denny said. “I’m a catcher, but this year I’m going to play a majority in the outfield. Just trying to play whatever position is best for this team.”
As Big Ten conference play continues to ramp up, Denny will continue to make an immense impact in Indiana’s lineup. Until Wiggins returns from his foot injury, Denny is expected to pick up a majority of the slack in right field.
Whether it’s filling a defensive gap or slugging at the plate, the freshman utility player has proven that he can continuously be relied on.
