Denker to see playing time

Rookie infielder 'made a great first impression' on Bochy

Chris Haft - MLB.com

Infielder Travis Denker became the seventh Giant to join the team after beginning the season in the Minor Leagues. And if Denker is anything like most of the first six -- first baseman John Bowker, infielder Emmanuel Burriss, outfielder Clay Timpner and pitchers Alex Hinshaw, Pat Misch and Billy Sadler -- he'll receive ample playing time, given manager Bruce Bochy's liberal use of his bench and the Giants' eagerness to test their prospects.

"They're going to get an opportunity," Bochy said Wednesday. "We're looking for these younger players."

Denker, who becomes the youngest Giant at age 22, didn't appear to be bound for the Majors when the season began. He hit .184 in 25 games with Double-A Connecticut. Yet, he was promoted to Triple-A Fresno after Burriss was summoned to the Giants in late April and regained his stroke, batting .315 in 17 games.

"Being in 30-degree weather every day doesn't help," Denker said, referring to his Connecticut stint. "I really didn't feel like hitting when I was there."

Denker performed better than his statistics indicated in Spring Training, when he hit .212 in 16 games. So when the Giants decided that struggling utilityman Eugenio Velez needed to go to Triple-A to sharpen his game, they barely hesitated to beckon Denker.

"He made a great first impression," Bochy said.

Denker made his Major League debut in the 10th inning of the Giants' 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies, flying out as a pinch-hitter.

Denker already owns a spot in franchise lore as being part of the first trade between the Giants and Dodgers in 22 years. San Francisco acquired him last Aug. 26 as the player-to-be-named-later in the Mark Sweeney deal on Aug. 9.