Shortly after arriving at rookie Johnson City in 1990, talk with new catcher John Dempsey turned to his dad, longtime major leaguer Rick Dempsey.
"I would have to say people are probably expecting more of me because I have such a good teacher," Dempsey told The Johnson City Press that June. "If people have these high expectations for me, I just have to live up to them. I'm going to have to prove myself sooner or later."
Dempsey spoke as he started his second season as a pro. He went on to see six seasons in total. He topped out at AA.
Dempsey's career began in 1989, taken by the Cardinals in the 10th round of the draft out of Crespi Carmelite High School in California.
Dempsey started with the Cardinals in the rookie Arizona League. The catcher got into 22 games and hit .186.
He then moved to rookie Johnson City for 1990. He saw 52 games there and hit .249. That August, his hometown Thousand Oaks News Chronicle checked in on his progress, with his manager Mark DeJohn praising Dempsey.
"He's a much-improved player from last year," DeJohn told The News Chronicle. "His batting average isn't an indication as to how well he's done. I don't see a problem with him making A-ball next year."
Dempsey made single-A Springfield in 1991, but he also returned to Johnson City for 49 games. He hit .212 on the year.
He assessed his Johnson City pitching staff to The Press that June.
"We've got a lot of guys that throw hard," Dempsey told The Press then. "And they can also throw the breaking ball and get some strikeouts."
Dempsey started 1992 at single-A Savannah, but then played the rest of the year at independent high-A Salinas.
He arrived in the Royals system for 1993 and saw one game at AA Memphis. He went 1 for 4. He also saw 18 games at high-A Wilmington. He returned to Wilmington for 18 more games in 1994 and saw two in the rookie Gulf Coast League to end his career.
- Johnson City Press, June 19, 1990: Big-league dad has JC catcher feeling pressure
- Thousand Oaks News Chronicle, Aug. 22, 1990: Dempsey's son tries to catch on
- Johnson City Press, June 30, 1991: Cardinals defeated by Bristol
Made the Majors:1,418-32.1
Never Made Majors:3,005-67.9%-X
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