The Pirates are getting ready to name up Henry Davis to the majors on Monday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Put up-Gazette studies (Twitter hyperlink). Davis is predicted to make his MLB debut within the recreation towards the Cubs.
Chosen with the primary general decide of the 2021 draft, Davis shall be making a fairly fast journey to the majors, although it’s laborious to argue that the catcher isn’t prepared. Davis has been crushing the ball at each degree, together with a .286/.432/.514 slash line over 45 plate appearances at Triple-A. Although Davis was solely not too long ago promoted to Triple-A and has solely 10 video games below his belt on the prime minor league degree, the Pirates have seen sufficient to consider he is able to contribute within the Present.
The timing of the promotion can’t be missed, as if Davis stays on the massive league roster for the rest of the season, he’ll solely amass 105 days of Main League service time. This all however ensures that he gained’t obtain Tremendous Two standing, and thus gained’t achieve an additional yr of arbitration eligibility. Given how the Pirates absolutely really feel Davis generally is a cornerstone participant for years to return, it maybe isn’t shocking that the small-market staff already has a watch on the catcher’s future price ticket, assuming he lives as much as expectations as a future star. Funds additionally factored into the Bucs’ number of Davis within the first place, as he signed for a $6.5MM bonus that was properly beneath the slot worth hooked up to the primary general decide.
Davis was a consensus top-100 prospect getting into the season, with Keith Legislation (who had Davis thirtieth), Baseball Prospectus (forty sixth), MLB Pipeline (57th) and Baseball America (73rd) all ranked him amongst the sport’s prime minor leaguers. Legislation cited Davis’ wrist accidents in 2022 and his want to enhance towards offspeed pitching, however Legislation was maybe highest of the pundits on the Louisville product’s potential as a result of Legislation believes Davis will be capable to stick at catcher — removed from a common opinion amongst scouts.
Whereas Davis has performed some proper subject throughout his younger professional profession, that may very well be much less a mirrored image of his protection than the truth that Pittsburgh additionally has one other prime catching prospect in Endy Rodriguez. As a result of Rodriguez may play the outfield in addition to second place, there’s an opportunity that neither of the Pirates’ “catchers of the long run” finally find yourself as catchers, although having each gamers provides the Bucs some flexibility in figuring out one of the best path for each gamers. Davis’ plus hitting capability makes him precious wherever he traces up on the sphere, although it will naturally have essentially the most influence coming from the catcher place.
Austin Hedges and Jason Delay have largely break up catching duties in Pittsburgh this season, with Hedges contributing his standard wonderful protection however subsequent to nothing on the plate, whereas Delay has hit .304/.371/.418 over 91 PA. Because the Pirates clearly aren’t bringing Davis as much as sit him on the bench, it creates an fascinating short-term subject for the Pirates in figuring out which catcher stays. Delay nonetheless has three minor league choices so the likeliest situation is that he’s despatched to Triple-Some time Hedges stays as a glove-first complement and maybe a defensive mentor to Davis. Ought to Davis set up himself as a giant leaguer, Delay would possibly turn out to be an fascinating commerce chip for the Pirates to market on the commerce deadline.
It’s an entire lot to ask that Davis can present an Adley Rutschman-esque influence on the Pirates lineup, replicating how Rutschman’s promotion virtually immediately sparked the Orioles from rebuilding staff to contender in 2022. Nonetheless, the Pirates have a 34-35 document however are just one.5 video games out of first place within the NL Central and three.5 video games out of a wild card berth. Given the compact nature of the Nationwide League standings, the Pirates nonetheless have an opportunity of mounting a playoff push, however on the very least the staff has already proven that their rebuilding standing is over.
