Editor's note: The report below is from the 2010 Digital Prospect Guide, which is full of original scouting information, professional-quality scouting videos and statistical analysis. You can order the Digital Prospect Guide using the add to cart button in our sidebar or by visiting our product details page.
Quick Facts
Davis has limitless power. He uses his big, 6-foot-5 frame to generate a fierce uppercut swing that puts a charge into the ball. The Arizona State product has very good bat speed and plus pull-side power. His hands start in a normal behind-the-ear position but he drops them considerably as he loads. This movement allows him to pull the bat up through the zone and elevate the ball.
While Davis has shown the ability to murder fastballs, he struggles with staying back on off-speed pitches. He’s patient enough to get into fastball counts, but he can get overly aggressive when he’s expecting a fastball. Sometimes he starts his swing before the pitcher even releases the ball, which leads to some ugly, off-balance swings. In combination with his long swing, this aggression, which could be an asset if he can harness it, leads to a lot of swings and misses.
If Davis can shorten up his swing a little bit, he’ll swing through fewer off-speed pitches and fastballs. Though he was an elite line-drive hitter last season, Davis hits a lot of fly balls. He’s going to fly out too many times to sustain a .350+ BABIP. Don’t be surprised if he winds up being a .300 BABIP guy with a batting average closer to .275 than .300. A fluid defensive first baseman with soft hands, Davis has a plus arm – 90+ MPH fastball as a RP in college. Although he’s a decent athlete, he’s a below-average runner.
To reach his full potential, Davis must improve against lefties – particularly breaking balls. He’s already exceeded many expectations by powering through Double-A. With another solid year, he could find himself in New York before long. It’s rare for approaches like his to work in the bigs, but his 25-30+ home run potential is too much to overlook.
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