Catcher Henry Davis started his fifth season in professional baseball in Triple-A Indianapolis, but Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington still believes in Davis, the first player selected in the 2021 MLB Draft.
Especially his ability behind the plate.
“We really believe in where Henry’s headed,” Cherington said Sunday on his radio show on 93.7 The Fan. “He’s come so far defensively to the point where there is unanimous confidence across our organization and in our major-league clubhouse about him catching at the major-league level. No questions.
“Now, he’ll continue to work on that and continue to improve on that. That will go forever. But he’s become, in our minds, a strong defensive catcher. And he’s worked his tail off on that. It gives him a weapon at the major-league level that, candidly, two or three years ago he didn’t have.”
Cherington said he had “difficult conversations” this spring when the decision was made to option Davis to Triple-A. Joey Bart and Endy Rodriguez are the Pirates’ catchers, but Rodriguez started two games at first base in the season-opening series in Miami.
Next on Davis’ to-do list is improving his offensive skills.
“Now, making adjustments offensively, that’s something he has to figure out,” Cherington said. “He has a history of hitting everywhere he’s been through Triple-A (.289/.407/.532). The only place he’s never not hit is the major-league level. It seems bound to happen at some point when he gets the next opportunity.
“That’s what he’s focused on: ‘Why haven’t I hit yet at the major-league level? What are the things I have to do, adjustments I have to make to give myself a better chance to do that when that next opportunity comes?’
“But really encouraged where Henry is.”
Davis played 99 games with the Pirates the past two seasons, slashing .213/.302/.351 in 2023 and .144/.242/.212 last year.
He started behind the plate Friday night and was 0 for 4 while batting third for Indianapolis in an 11-0 loss to St. Paul. The Indians’ games Saturday and Sunday were postponed by inclement weather.