That's Mr. Denson about to hit a baseball 515 feet.
David Denson is a 20-year-old first base prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers' farm system. He's a power-hitting first baseman of African-American and Hispanic decent working his way through the Milwaukee minor league system. Right now he's in single A ball. His power and on-base percentage show a potential, his strikeout rate is
bothersome but common amongst power hitters. He grew up in La Puente, California, and was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 15th round in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. He has also known that he was gay for a long time. When a teammate used a derogatory remark in playful, clubhouse banter
Denson said, half-jokingly:
"Be careful what you say. You never know," Denson cautioned the player with a smile.
Before he knew it, Denson was making the emotional announcement he yearned to share, and the group around him expanded to the point that he soon was speaking to most of the team. Much to Denson's relief, when the conversation ended he was greeted with outward support and understanding instead of condemnation.
"Talking with my teammates, they gave me the confidence I needed, coming out to them," recalled Denson. "They said, 'You're still our teammate. You're still our brother. We kind of had an idea, but your sexuality has nothing to do with your ability. You're still a ballplayer at the end of the day. We don't treat you any different. We've got your back.'
Denson's decision also meant coming out to his family beforehand.
Before revealing his secret to teammates, Denson figured it was time to finally tell his family, and did so in the spring. First, he told his sister, Celestine, a professional dancer married to former Brewers farmhand Jose Sermo.
"She said, 'I've known since you were little,'" said Denson. "I said, 'How did you know?' She said, 'You're my little brother. I'm around you all the time.'"
Telling his parents was the hardest for David Denson, as they are both very religious Christians and his father, a former athlete himself, was openly critical of homosexuality.
"It was an eye-opener for him. He finally came to terms with it. Coming out to my father was even harder than coming out to my teammates, because I knew how he felt about it. He grew up in sports, and I heard him talk (in derogatory fashion) about gay guys. That was hard for me to hear at the time.
"But I'm his son and he said, 'It's your life and it's who you are. I love you.' There's a difference between accepting it, and supporting it and respecting it. I know he loves me and supports me and has my back."
An important part of this story is the support Major League Baseball was able to give this young man in his decision. Last year MLB announced the official baseball position of
MLB's Ambassador for Inclusion. Former baseball player Billy Bean was baseball's first appointment to the position.
In his new role, Bean, who made public that he is gay in 1999, will provide guidance and training related to efforts to support those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community throughout Major League Baseball. He will work with Major and Minor League Clubs to encourage equal opportunity in accordance with the joint MLB-MLBPA Workplace Code of Conduct.
Bean also will develop educational training initiatives against sexism, homophobia and prejudice, and he will be present at annual industry events, including the Winter Meetings and the MLB-MLBPA Rookie Career Development Program.
Denson reached out in order to bring this decision out to the general public and the rest of baseball. He says he made the decision before spring training this year as he was becoming riddled with anxiety and depression and fear in trying to hide his sexuality from his teammates and others and it was affecting his performance and life. He got in touch with the club's professional counselor for mental health issues and she convinced him he needed to
arrange a meeting with the ball club's farm director Reid Nichols as well as the club's manager and hitting coach.
"I was shaking and crying, and just very scared," recalled Denson. "I didn't know if it would go good or bad, or if they'd look at me any different.
"When I finally told them about my sexuality, Reid said, 'To me, it doesn't matter. You're still a ballplayer. My goal for you, as well as anybody else in the organization, is to get you to the big leagues. You are who you are. That doesn't make a difference. Just go out and play the game. This is a very brave thing for you to do.'
The proof is in the pudding, Denson was performing terribly before his decision to come out to his teammates and organization. Since then his hitting has improved greatly and he made the minor league Pioneer League all-star team—and was named MVP of the game. Getting into the majors is a long shot for anyone in the minors but Denson and baseball, as a professional sport, are showing the kind of growth you hope for.
Below the fold is video of him hitting a baseball a record 515 feet in a power exhibition. Five hundred fifteen feet. Barry Bond's big home runs were routinely 420-450 feet to give some scale.