He recently served as the manager for the Hartford Yard Goats, who are the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB), following a playing career that included stints with the Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Chicago Cubs.

A self-described "late bloomer", Denorfia played second base before having a growth spurt his junior year at the age of 16.

[1][2] Denorfia later attended Division III Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, where he earned a degree, double majoring in international relations and Hispanic studies.

At Wheaton, Denorfia was converted from shortstop to the outfield, and hit .467 during his senior year, drawing the attention of major league scouts.

He missed the entire 2007 season as a result of the surgery, but returned in 2008, making Oakland's Opening Day roster.

On December 16, 2009, Denorfia signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres and received an invitation to spring training.

Denorfia remained with the big league club for the rest of the season, batting .271 with 9 home runs in 284 at-bats and starting 44 games in center field, 15 in left and 13 in right.

[7] SABR investigated the possibility that the play had set the record for least distance travelled through the air for a home run ball.

On December 12, 2011, Denorfia signed another one-year deal to avoid arbitration[11] and began the 2012 season on the Padres 25-man roster.

Denorfia was traded to the Seattle Mariners on July 31, 2014, for minor league outfielder Abraham Almonte and pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen.

Denorfia signed a one-year contract worth a guaranteed $2.6 million plus $400k in incentives with the Chicago Cubs on January 9, 2015.

[18] Denorfia was expected to form a platoon with Chris Coghlan in left field,[19][20] but hamstring injuries delayed his start to the season and then put him on the disabled list for a month in May and early June.

[21] When he returned, he made a number of starts in right field in place of the injured Jorge Soler during June, but was relegated to a defensive replacement role for much of the year.

On March 2, 2016, Denorfia signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees that included an opt-out clause.

[25] On June 9, 2016, Denorfia signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants and was assigned to the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats.