Henry Davis DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up catcher/outfielder Henry Davis on Saturday, sources tell MLB.com's Alex Stumpf. Davis, the first overall pick back in 2021, had a strong spring and was hitting .286 with three doubles in eight games played at Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the season. There's no word on a corresponding move, but catcher Joey Bart (back) did leave Friday's series opener against the Cincinnati Reds with lower-back discomfort, so it's possible he will land on the injured list. If Davis does go on the IL this weekend, Davis and Endy Rodriguez will be options for Pittsburgh at catcher going forward. The 25-year-old Davis got off to a nice start offensively in the minors this year, but the Louisville product hasn't been able to put it all together yet at the major-league level in 99 games the last two years, slashing .191/.283/.307 with a .590 OPS, eight home runs, 29 RBI and 114 strikeouts in 377 plate appearances.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis is projected to be the team's No. 2 backstop on the Opening Day roster. Davis is a former top prospect but has yet to take the next step in the major leagues. He was selected with the first overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2023 and held a modest .214/.302/.351 line across 62 games. Then, in 2024, Davis appeared in just 37 games in Pittsburgh and had a lower .144/.242/.212 slash line. However, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com noted that given Davis' strong play in spring training, he has put himself above Endy Rodriguez and Jason Delay. During camp, Davis has held a strong .286/.348/.524 slash line with two doubles and one home run. The Louisville product has also seen time in the outfield which will provide the team with additional defensive flexibility. Fantasy managers in deeper two-catcher formats should monitor Davis' progression as he could be worth a late-round flier if he continues to produce in spring training.

According to Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pirates catcher Henry Davis (hand) was seen taking live batting practice on Thursday. The 25-year-old finished the 2024 season on the injured list with left hand inflation. However, seeing him take live BP just two days into camp is a great sign and suggests he should be a full-go for spring training. After posting a modest .213/.302/.351 line during his rookie campaign in 2023, Davis took another step back in 2024 as he posted a lower .144/.242/.212 slash line across 37 games. He tallied just four doubles and one home run. While he showed a strong eye at the plate with a 10.7 percent walk rate, he generated a weak .156 xBA. Given his struggles in the MLB, Davis will likely be competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster during spring training alongside Endy Rodriguez.