Windsor Selects 18U - PBLO News > Player Accomplishments

Chris Dennis is certainly feeling like he's got a future with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Most players taken in the 13th round, which is where Dennis was selected by the Brewers this year, really don't know where they fit in the grand scheme of things.

For the 19-year-old Dennis, he got a quick answer after his rookie season with the Arizona Brewers in Phoenix.

Dennis was invited down to the club's instructional league after the season. After a short stay at home, he's headed back to Arizona for winter ball, which runs until the middle of December.

"They told us that if you're invited, it's a big accomplishment," Dennis said. "You're only invited if they want you to move up and keep improving."

Dennis had a solid first pro campaign. He finished with a .263 average, but ended the season with a 10-game hitting streak where he batted .455 over the stretch. He led the team with five home runs and had 12 RBIs in 32 games.

"I had a slow start, but once I got going, I had a real good season," the six-foot-one, 205-pound Dennis said.

Being Canadian is partly why Dennis feels he got off to a slow start.

"You're kind of behind and you have to adjust a little," Dennis said. "Americans are able to go to California or Arizona to play and play a high level of ball any day."

His time in instructional league and winter ball will only improve his game. He's one of 40 players invited down. Three were on his team last year and he's the only Canadian.

"They have games, but it's more learning," Dennis said. "I'm getting a lot of instruction and it's one-on-one training.

"In the morning, you're doing hitting and in the afternoon it's fielding."

He'll also continue to make a switch from catcher to the outfield, which is where the Brewers project him.

"I miss (catching), but it's a business," Dennis said. "Once you realize that fact, it's all the same."

jparker@thestar.canwest.com or 519-255-5777 ext. 413