Pittsburgh Pirates Draft Board: C Henry Davis
Throughout the 2020 and early 2021 season, there were just two names you heard about the Pirates taking with the number one overall pick. Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker were almost slam dunks to be taken number one overall, but since then several other players have put their names into the ring to be the choice. You usually don't draft for need in the MLB Draft, but one position the Pirates have a dire need for is catching depth. Aside from Endy Rodriguez down in Low-A Bradenton, there really is no one else for the Pirates to look to as a possible catcher of the future. However, one of the names that have crept into the first overall pick possibility is catcher Henry Davis from Louisville.
He is one of the best all-around bats in the draft, and he has one of the best arms of all the catchers in this year's draft. Scouts are saying that his best tool is his plus arm strength, which he uses to control the run game. He hits for a high average and has a lot of power to go with it, being projected to hit 20+ home runs once he matures. Last year, Ben Cherington showed that he loves offense when he took Nick Gonzales with the first overall pick last season, and it could entice him again with Davis. If the Pirates drafted Davis, that would likely give them two catchers in their top 30 prospects list helping create some competition for the future. Today, we look at Davis's stats on the field and how he could help the Pirates system moving forward.
Great Offense Mixed With Decent Defense
The biggest thing that pops out of the stat sheet when you look at Davis is his ability to hit the ball. During his junior season at Louisville, he hit .370 with 15 home runs and 48 RBI in 220 plate appearances. While he does have power, he isn't a guy who strikes out a lot either as he has just 24 strikeouts compared to 31 walks. His OPS was an out-of-this-world 1.145 and he gets on base at an impressive .486 clip. The Pirates have had some good offensive catchers in the past, but none that had a truly great pedigree at the dish. At least in his collegiate career, Davis has shown that he can handle the bat and that he doesn't chase bad pitches at the plate.
Underneath all that power and offense is a little bit of speed as well. He isn't a blazer by any stretch of the imagination, with a run grade of 40, but he knows when to take his shots which has lead to some success on the base paths. He ended up stealing 10 bases in 13 chances this season, and prior to this year, he had never stolen a base. With the amount of times that Davis works his way on base, that speed threat is something that opposing pitchers would have to keep in the back of their minds. He has a walk rate of 13.5% this season, so he can work his way on base. With a high average, good power, and a good eye, Davis is setting up to be a great offensive prospect for whatever team decides to take him.
On the defensive side of the ball, Davis isn't nearly as accomplished as his offense, but he does have one tool that outshines them all. He has an absolute cannon of an arm, that grades as a 70 on MLB Pipeline's 20-80 scale. He ended up cutting down 34% of would-be base runners in his college career, helping out his pitching staff. Scouts say that his receiving still needs some work, but all projections say that Davis can stay behind the plate throughout his pro career. He has more speed and athletic ability than your average catcher which could help him in his development. He is one of the best hitters in this draft class, and his defense can continue to grow as he moves up the Minor League ranks.
Davis in Black and Gold
If the Pirates do end up drafting Henry Davis, he would immediately be the best catching prospect in the system. Much like Jack Leiter, who we profiled yesterday, Davis would be one of those fast-moving prospects who could be ready as early as 2023 or 2024. If Cherington feels that his Pirates can be competitors by then, it may be worth it to add a guy who has shown he can hit for both average and power. With Stallings still having a couple of years of control in Pittsburgh, the Pirates would be able to keep their veteran backstop, and then make a smooth transition between Stallings and Davis. The only thing that would possibly stop this is if Davis hits a bump in the road during his progression in the Minor Leagues.
As for where Davis would start, it is likely he would head to High-A Greensboro, where he would join an already high-powered team. Currently, the Grasshoppers have Grant Koch and Dylan Shockley behind the plate, but neither guy has really shown they can start every day. Davis would step right in and hope to keep it going from his college days where he hit .370 with 15 home runs at Louisville. He would be joining a roster that already includes Nick Gonzales, Liover Peguero, and Quinn Priester and would give this young group a chance to mesh and learn how to win together so that when they hit the Major Leagues they can continue that success.
If the Pirates don't take one of the two Vanderbilt pitchers, Davis would be the next best pick for the Pirates to go with. If they are going for the timeline that they want to be competitive again by 2023, it makes sense that Davis would be ready, or very close to being ready by that time. He could make himself part of that young core who all will be ready around that 2023 season. Cherington's plan all along has been to accumulate talent, so that even if not everyone works out, they still have a good young group of players ready to contribute. Davis is projecting to be a nice middle-of-the-order type bat who is looking to bring his offensive prowess from college to professional baseball. If he could do that for the Pirates, it could be a big win for the organization.
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