This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf’s Pirates Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it repeatedly in your inbox.
The swing would go down as an F8 when scored, nevertheless it was certainly one of Henry Davis finest cuts on Saturday night time.
With the bases loaded, two outs and two strikes within the high of the seventh, Davis lower his swing down however nonetheless produced laborious contact, lifting a fly ball to right-center. Whereas Guardians heart fielder Lane Thomas was in a position to observe it down and no runs got here house, it was laborious contact the alternative approach off of a two-strike breaking ball.
In case you’re on the lookout for constructive indicators from Davis, that’s a step in the precise route in a number of areas that he’s struggled at within the Majors this season — particularly the two-strike battle. His 37% strikeout fee coming into play Tuesday was almost 10% increased than it was his rookie season. It’s one thing that has been a thorn in his aspect, and one thing that he zeroed in on whereas at Triple-A Indianapolis this season.
“I’ve all the time taken pleasure in being a man that’s powerful to strike out,” Davis stated. “I haven’t actually [been] that this yr, however I’m working in the direction of that.”
It’s approach too quickly to see if Davis’ work at Indianapolis will translate to the Majors, however he has made modifications. The Pirates needed him to revert again to his outdated swing mechanics. He’s utilizing a smaller bat.
These modifications have yielded a few of his finest bat speeds within the Majors this season. He is additionally renewing his outdated school coaches’ teachings to only put the ball in play, even when it means shortening up his swing with two strikes.
“I felt like I used to be getting beat up high rather a lot,” Davis stated. “I exploit a historically heavier bat, so to chop an oz. helped me get to these pitches extra persistently … [and] positively resulted in some simpler, freer swings.”
Time will inform if all of it yields higher outcomes. Ending sturdy would definitely go a good distance for Davis, giving him an opportunity to at the very least finish the yr with a very good style in his mouth.
A lot of the dialogue across the 2021 first total Draft decide early on was whether or not or not he may catch within the Majors. Davis has since proven vastly improved receiving abilities, which, when mixed together with his sturdy arm and good game-calling skill, makes him appear like a legit large league catcher.
Coming into the yr, the assumption was he would hit sufficient, nevertheless it was unsure he would subject properly sufficient to earn a roster spot. It’s doubtless going to be the inverse heading in the direction of 2025.
Davis has torn up Triple-A pitching this yr (.307/.401/.555 in 57 video games), however with the Pirates, he’s hit simply .149 with a .466 OPS in 36 video games. In 98 profession video games with Pittsburgh, he has a .193/.285/.310 line.
Nonetheless, it’s approach too quickly to put in writing Davis off — teammate and fellow former high prospect Joey Bart is an ideal instance of a catcher who simply wanted extra time to interrupt out — however that doesn’t make this yr any much less irritating.
“I perceive there’s an expectation once you’re a excessive decide, or once you’re [No. 1 overall], that everyone thinks, ‘Alright, you are going to come to the large leagues and it is going to be actually productive and good immediately,’” supervisor Derek Shelton stated. “Let’s give him time. Let’s give this child time to get his bearings and proceed to go.”
Looking back, for Davis, that is the primary time as knowledgeable or in school at Louisville that he has struggled. In these tribulations, he’s fallen again on his newfound religion.
Shortly after Davis proposed to his fiancée, Sofia, in December 2022, she gave him a Bible and stated it was essential to her for him to learn it. The tales spoke to him, particularly the first-hand accounts of individuals in extraordinary conditions. That’s serving to him as he goes by means of new challenges.
“Holding the attitude that all the pieces is known as a check [is key],” Davis stated. “You undergo issues, not simply as a baseball participant. Folks undergo issues each single day — far tougher, far tougher than we’ll ever expertise on the sphere. Simply protecting that perspective — that it’s going to strengthen you as an individual — you possibly can endure by means of issues which are a wrestle or struggling. That’s the way you grow to be a more durable individual, an individual that may deal with adversity.”
This has been a season of adversity, however Davis isn’t backing away from it.
“A season like this, or moments like this — whether or not it’s a troublesome recreation, powerful month, powerful season — being prepared to endure it will put you in a greater place to achieve the long term,” Davis stated. “Be a greater individual, husband, father, teammate, brother — all this stuff I need to do in my life. You welcome it.”
