The Pittsburgh Pirates have optioned catcher Henry Davis, the first overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft, to Triple-A Indianapolis, the team announced on Friday. This move cleared a roster spot for veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal, who was activated from the injured list after dealing with plantar fasciitis, which kept him out during most of spring training and the early part of the season.
Davis, 24, began the year as the Pirates’ starting catcher but struggled both offensively and defensively. His batting line stands at .160/.280/.206, with no home runs and a high strikeout rate of 34.9% across 83 plate appearances. On the defensive side, Davis has been rated poorly, with -3 defensive runs saved and negative framing metrics behind the plate.
Concerns about Davis’s defense have lingered since he was drafted, which is why the Pirates played him in right field during his MLB debut last summer. However, with a full outfield including Bryan Reynolds, Jack Suwinski, and Michael A. Taylor, the Pirates need Davis to regain his hitting form. Now, he’s headed to Triple-A to make some adjustments.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton commented on the decision, stating that Davis needs to work on his hitting and that the major league game has shown areas for improvement. “It’s a chance for Henry to catch his breath a little bit,” Shelton said. Overall, Davis’s MLB slash line is .201/.297/.317 with seven home runs across 338 plate appearances, which is considerably lower than you’d expect from a top prospect and first overall draft pick.
Taking over behind the plate for the Pirates is Joey Bart, who joined the team last month in a trade with the San Francisco Giants. Bart has started in seven of the last 12 games, hitting .219/.359/.531 with three home runs in 39 plate appearances. While his offensive numbers are encouraging, his defense is still a concern.
The Pirates began the season with a promising 9-2 record, but they’ve struggled since, dropping 16 of their last 21 games, bringing their current record to 14-18 as of Friday. The team is looking to turn things around, hoping to get their young talent on track as they continue the season.
