2021 No. 1 overall pick embraces challenges

This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf's Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The swing would go down as an F8 when scored, but it was one of Henry Davis best cuts on Saturday night.

With the bases loaded, two outs and two strikes in the top of the seventh, Davis cut his swing down but still produced hard contact, lifting a fly ball to right-center. While Guardians center fielder Lane Thomas was able to track it down and no runs came home, it was hard contact the opposite way off of a two-strike breaking ball.

If you’re looking for positive signs from Davis, that’s a step in the right direction in several areas that he’s struggled at in the Majors this season -- especially the two-strike battle. His 37% strikeout rate entering play Tuesday was nearly 10% higher than it was his rookie season. It is something that has been a thorn in his side, and something that he zeroed in on while at Triple-A Indianapolis this season.

“I’ve always taken pride in being a guy that’s tough to strike out,” Davis said. “I haven’t really [been] that this year, but I’m working towards that.”

It’s way too soon to see if Davis' work at Indianapolis will translate to the Majors, but he has made changes. The Pirates wanted him to revert back to his old swing mechanics. He is using a smaller bat.

Those changes have yielded some of his best bat speeds in the Majors this season. He's also renewing his old college coaches’ teachings to just put the ball in play, even if it means shortening up his swing with two strikes.

“I felt like I was getting beat up top a lot,” Davis said. “I use a traditionally heavier bat, so to cut an ounce helped me get to those pitches more consistently … [and] definitely resulted in some easier, freer swings.”

Time will tell if it all yields better results. Finishing strong would certainly go a long way for Davis, giving him a chance to at least end the year with a good taste in his mouth.

So much of the discussion around the 2021 first overall Draft pick early on was whether or not he could catch in the Majors. Davis has since shown vastly improved receiving skills, which, when combined with his strong arm and good game-calling ability, makes him look like a legit big league catcher.

Coming into the year, the belief was he would hit enough, but it was uncertain he would field well enough to earn a roster spot. It’s likely going to be the inverse heading towards 2025.

Davis has torn up Triple-A pitching this year (.307/.401/.555 in 57 games), but with the Pirates, he’s hit just .149 with a .466 OPS in 36 games. In 98 career games with Pittsburgh, he has a .193/.285/.310 line.

Still, it’s way too soon to write Davis off -- teammate and fellow former top prospect Joey Bart is a perfect example of a catcher who just needed more time to break out -- but that doesn’t make this year any less frustrating.

“I understand there's an expectation when you're a high pick, or when you're [No. 1 overall], that everybody thinks, 'Alright, you're going to come to the big leagues and it's going to be really productive and good right away,’” manager Derek Shelton said. “Let's give him time. Let's give this kid time to get his bearings and continue to go."

In retrospect, for Davis, this is the first time as a professional or in college at Louisville that he has struggled. In those tribulations, he’s fallen back on his newfound faith.

Shortly after Davis proposed to his fiancée, Sofia, in December 2022, she gave him a Bible and said it was important to her for him to read it. The stories spoke to him, especially the first-hand accounts of people in extraordinary situations. That’s helping him as he goes through new challenges.

“Keeping the perspective that everything is really a test [is key],” Davis said. “You go through things, not just as a baseball player. People go through things every single day -- far more challenging, far more difficult than we’ll ever experience on the field. Just keeping that perspective -- that it will strengthen you as a person -- you can endure through things that are a struggle or suffering. That’s how you become a tougher person, a person that can handle adversity.”

This has been a season of adversity, but Davis isn’t backing away from it.

“A season like this, or moments like this -- whether it’s a tough game, tough month, tough season -- being willing to endure it is going to put you in a better position to succeed in the long run,” Davis said. “Be a better person, husband, father, teammate, brother -- all these things I want to do in my life. You welcome it.”