Pittsburgh Pirates: Put Henry Davis in the Middle of the Lineup

In his highly anticipated debut, Henry Davis showed off the power that made him the first overall selection in 2021. In his first plate appearance with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he hit an impressive double down the line in his very first at-bat. Davis also demonstrated a keen eye at the plate, working a walk in his next plate appearance. Although he had a deep fly-out later in the game, his overall performance hinted at a bright future ahead.

One interesting thing about Davis' debut was his spot in the batting order. Despite his impressive display, he found himself batting seventh. This decision raises questions, especially considering the offensive struggles of the Pirates, particularly with players like Connor Joe and Rodolfo Castro occupying higher spots in the lineup. It's clear that the current lineup setup isn't producing the desired results.

This is where Henry Davis' potential becomes evident. As the former first-overall pick, he possesses tremendous talent and has the ability to become a cornerstone player for the Pirates. If the organization truly believes in his abilities, it would make sense to promote him in the lineup, giving him more opportunities to make an impact.

Unfortunately, this situation is not unfamiliar to the fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Throughout their history, they have often made questionable lineup decisions and managerial choices. Under the leadership of Derek Shelton, such questionable decisions have become somewhat of a pattern. This is the same manager that put Oneil Cruz in the 8th spot of the lineup for his debut.

Pittsburgh Pirates catching prospect Henry Davis performed in the Minor Leagues this season.

Henry Davis had an impressive season at both Triple-A and Double-A. At Triple-A Indy, he boasted a .286/.432/.514 slash line with a 142 wRC+ in 45 plate appearances. Davis showcased excellent plate discipline, walking at a 17.8% rate and collecting 5 extra-base hits with a .229 ISO. Prior to Triple-A, Davis excelled in Double-A, hitting .284/.433/.541. He displayed a strong walk rate of 17.2%, a 19.8% strikeout rate, and a .257 ISO in the minors this season.

Those are middle-of-the-lineup type numbers from the former first overall selection. The Pittsburgh Pirates do not have a middle-of-the-lineup bat on the team right now. They have had some players take steps forward this year. Let Davis take one towards becoming the impact bat this team desperately needs. Henry Davis ranks as the 44th best prospect in Baseball according to MLB Pipeline.