Pirates’ Rookie Henry Davis Blasts First MLB Home Run in Loss to Marlins
It’s been a week to remember for Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Henry Davis, who crushed his first MLB home run on Thursday, less than a week after being recalled from triple-A Indianapolis.
Davis, the organization’s No. 3 top prospect per MLB Pipeline, fell into a mini-slump after doubling in his first big-league at-bat on Monday versus the Chicago Cubs, going 0-for-10 with a walk and two hit-by-pitches as he stepped to the plate in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins.
Andrew Nardi entered out of Miami’s bullpen, following a strong start from Braxton Garrett, who held Pittsburgh’s offense to just two runs on three hits over seven innings. But all that changed with one giant swing to lead off the eighth.
After taking a first-pitch fastball for strike one, Davis laid off a down-and-in slider to even up the count before connecting on the next one that missed over the heart of the plate, sending it 407 feet – 100.5 mph off the bat – to left centre for his first career round-tripper.
With it, the Pirates’ first overall selection from 2021 put his team ahead 3-1, allowing him to soak in every second of his celebratory milestone as he rounded the bases.
Davis’ solo blast wasn’t the sole source of offense in that eighth, either, as teammate Ke’Bryan Hayes capped off the two-run inning with a home run of his own, handing the Pirates a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom half.
Pittsburgh’s bullpen, however, wasted little time squandering its three-run advantage. In turn, relievers Dauri Moreta and Carmen Mlodzinski surrendered a combined five runs on five hits and a walk, ultimately resulting in a 6-4 defeat that extended their losing streak to 10 straight.
That crushing loss didn’t take away from Davis’ unforgettable accomplishment, though it discouraged him from raving about his experience in the Pirates’ clubhouse afterwards. And understandably so, as the mood around the team post-game was anything but joyful.
“That was a great moment with my teammates,” Davis said to reporters post-game. “It was a good moment, [I] just wish we had won the game.”
The Pirates still haven’t won a game since promoting Davis to the majors, with the club being outscored 69-24 during this current 10-game skid, resulting in a minus-45 run differential.
Even so, the future remains extremely bright for one of the franchise’s top young stars, who has already added a pair of memorable hits to his trophy room across just four big-league contests. If his first week in the majors is any indication, there are likely more to follow.
Davis’ latest one, meanwhile, was caught by a fan beyond the outfield wall, who honourably returned the home run ball in exchange for a signed ball, bat and a picture with the 23-year-old slugger.
Pittsburgh’s front office originally planned for Davis to spend most of this season in the minors, continuing to develop his craft as a catcher. But, as with all good plans, some can change in a blink of an eye.
The 6-foot-2 righty forced his way out of double-A, hitting .284/.433/.547 with 10 home runs, 27 RBIs and a 166 wRC+ over 41 games before advancing to triple-A earlier this month. There, he was supposed to split time with fellow top prospect Endy Rodriguez.
But instead, Davis spent more time learning right field than he did working behind the plate, logging 48.0 innings beyond the infield. The idea, of course, was that it’d allow for a quicker ascension to the majors if his offensive explosion continued, which it did.
Davis’ triple-A tenure lasted only 10 games after he posted a .286/.432/.514 slash line with five extra-base hits – including three doubles, one triple and a home run – and a 142 wRC+.
The Pirates are still confident in Davis’ catching abilities, but they prefer to have him play the outfield, at least for now. That doesn’t mean he won’t continue sharpening his skills as a backstop, though, as he’s also been learning from veterans Jason Delay and Austin Hedges.
Things may appear bleak at the moment, but with top spot in the NL Central still within reach, Pittsburgh hopes some of its youth can help turn things around leading up to next month’s All-Star break.
“Have to keep that edge about you,” said Davis. “We’re a better team than we have played recently. Today does not dictate tomorrow. We have to come out with energy, come out with an edge and compete our tails off.
“Every day is independent of the other. It doesn’t matter what you did.”
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
Photo: Andrew NYR. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.