Henry Davis is quietly taking massive step forward Pirates fans have waited for

Prior to his start on April 11 against the Chicago Cubs, Henry Davis was finally starting to resemble the No. 1 overall pick who blasted his way through the minor leagues, displaying a more patient, mature approach at the plate.

Then, he went out and struck out four times in four at-bats, looking like the failed top prospect who had yet to adjust to MLB-caliber pitching.

Prior to that Golden Sombrero, Davis' strikeout rate for the year sat at just 12.9%, less than half of the 26.9% rate he posted in 2025. He was also chasing outside the zone less and whiffing on far fewer swings, giving reasons to believe in the gains he'd made at the plate.

Obviously, we can't just ignore that performance against the Cubs, but it's worth noting that he's been much more reliable on a game-to-game basis. In fact, save for another game against the Cincinnati Reds in late March when he struck out three times in three at bats, Davis has been punched out just once in his other 28 plate appearances this season.

There's still a long way to go before he reaches even league-average heights, but this has certainly been a step in the right direction for the 26-year-old backstop.

Henry Davis' offensive evolution remains agonizingly slow process for Pirates

There's no question that the Pirates are at their best when Davis is in the lineup and hitting well. He's made huge defensive strides over the past few seasons, and Joey Bart has come way back down to earth this year (16 wRC+) after a resurgence at the plate from 2024-25.

In terms of what there is to like about Davis' improvements this season, there's no denying his gains in bat speed have been impressive. After increasing his swing speed by nearly 1.5 miles per hour in 2025, he's jumped another tick this year. In turn, he's producing the best exit velocities of his career.

It's true that he's barreling up the ball less often, but that's to be expected; bat control is a common trade-off for more bat speed. If he can just keep the whiffs to a minimum and make that next jump in making more consistent contact, he should be able to provide some tangible, positive value at the plate.

Of course, that's a difficult improvement to make, and we're talking about a 35-plate-appearance sample when it comes to his 2026 numbers. A few more games like his Golden Sombrero against the Cubs, and we'll be right back to the bust talk.

For now, it's wisest to hone in on his process. That he's still prone to strikeout-heavy stretches is worrisome, but he's also only struck out in three of the 10 games he's taken an at-bat in thus far in 2026. There may yet be another level of his game that Davis is on the precipice of finding... even if it's taken a lot longer than anyone would have liked to get here.

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