Henry Davis is on his way back to Pittsburgh. The Pirates will place catcher Joey Bart on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, reports Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. To replace Bart on the active roster, the team will recall former top prospect Henry Davis from Triple-A Indianapolis. Presumably, the Pirates will announce these transactions before tomorrow’s game against the Cubs at PNC Park.
Davis, 24, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft, and he was a consensus top-100 prospect in the game entering the 2022 and ’23 seasons. However, he struggled in the majors last year, batting .213 with a .653 OPS over 62 games in his rookie campaign. Drafted as a catcher, he also struggled to adjust to his new role in right field, producing -6 Outs Above Average (OAA) and -9 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) in just 417 1/3 defensive innings.
The Pirates returned Davis to his natural position in 2024, but his results at the plate were no better to kick off his sophomore campaign. He hit so poorly over the first month of the season (.486 OPS in 23 games) that he was optioned to Triple-A in May. Although he immediately turned things around in the minor leagues, slashing .296/.436/.642 over 23 games, Davis struggled once again after earning another promotion to the majors; he went 2-for-17 over six games in June. His tough luck continued when a concussion forced him to the IL, and after he was cleared to play, he was optioned back to Triple-A, in large part because Bart was performing so well.
Indeed, Bart, 27, has been nothing short of excellent for the Bucs in 2024. The Pirates traded for him in April after he was designated for assignment by the Giants. He missed most of June with a thumb injury, but aside from that, he has been one of the team’s best hitters all season. Across 63 games, Bart is batting .272 with 12 home runs and an .844 OPS. His defensive metrics behind the plate are below average but not dreadful, and that’s more than acceptable with the way he’s been hitting the ball. The Pirates will hope his hamstring injury proves not to be too serious.
While Bart is out, Davis will get another chance to prove himself against big league competition. It’s already clear he has nothing left to prove at Triple-A. As usual, he was red-hot during his latest stint with Indianapolis, batting .314 with six home runs, seven stolen bases, and an .881 OPS over 34 games since coming off the IL. Veteran backstop Yasmani Grandal has been hitting well for the Pirates in the second half (.906 OPS in 14 games – not to mention his walk-off home run this afternoon), but Pittsburgh, now eight games back in the NL Wild Card race, has little incentive not to give Davis the bulk of the playing time while Bart is on the mend.
An injury to Bart? Doh!
A+ recall
I hope that his necessary attention to catching does not overwhelm his hitting like it did earlier this year.
At some point, the idea that the Pirates messed with his head on his first call up and at spring training this year isn’t gonna carry water where opportunities are concerned. Hope he jumps on this one
Having Andy Haines as your hitting coach didn’t exactly help Davis either
The only position player that righted his swing and got better was Gonzalez and he didn’t use Haines’ direction to make him better
Cruz hired his own hitting coach last year and Rowdy corrected his swing after taking advice from a long time scout
Before Hayes’ last back injury this season, Joe Nunnally, Indy’s then hitting coach at Indy last year corrected his swing and he went on an offensive tear after returning from the minors last season
Everyone of these players improved their offensive, not from the instructions by Haines but by people mostly outside of the organization
Funny thing. Bart was like Davis at the beginning of the year. A failed top prospect. Maybe Davis needs a change of teams.
No need for him to catch he can DH Grandal is basically Skenes and Keller personnel catcher add jones to that. On September 1 call up Delay
Then you’re taking AB’s away from Cutch, arguably one of the few “dangerous” hitters in the lineup
This team is going nowhere. What better time to see if this kid can play a position and hit?
Cutch is getting ready for retirement he can go play RF for the last home stand when healthy in September wave to the fans and get his send off
When was the last time that the Pirates did anything that took intelligence like that would?
Senor- If Endy is healthy next year do you really think that Davis will catch with Endy and Bart there?
Well i am not sure Bart will catch his defensive metrics are rough.
I think bart or Reynolds plays 1st
They will rotate DH
Haven’t heard the Reynolds to 1st idea anywhere. Not that he’s a great outfielder, but why? What else do you have in the OF?
Mendoza, then what are they doing with Davis? What’s the idea? They threw him out in right last year and said, go give it a shot. Can’t DH him without affecting Cutch and it’s said he wants to come back in ‘25. Unless I’m wrong, he’s among their HR leaders and one of the few in this lineup a pitcher may worry about
Reynolds to 1st is based on Harper move. It’s been just message board fodder because he is struggling defensively in the OF. They continue to try to have position flexibility in the minors and the easiest position to sign in FA is OF
Look i am sure Cutch wants another 5 million but he is 37 he will get his statue and a job in the organization but his days are over playing baseball
Seasons over. Who cares what they do. Play Davis in cf or ss. What’s it matter? Cutch can rest. Gotta see what these guys can do.
There’s no mvps on this team. Lots of spots and opportunity for Davis and Endy. So far all they shown to be is below average. Let’s see them actually hit before we worry about a log jam that’s not real. Endy can play rf 2b 1b. Davis can dh and catch. Even if Cutch comes back do you think he is going to get healthier with age? With Pirates development Haines Shelton you will be lucky if Davis Endy become anymore than just guys. Right now you have Reynolds Cruz and Bart. 10 spots for the rest of the decade up for grab.
Cutch has already said that he wants to play next year
Endy played first base in the minors, it might be worth checking him out there during ST rather than continuing to sign one year has beens or players on the downside of their careers
Oddly enough, that’s what people said last year about Cutch when he finished the season on the IL
His playing days were over
His 16 homers this year say otherwise
SenorFigs;
Wrote it the other day…..
Reynolds got great pub and an outrageous contract because he was possibly the only decent position player on the Pirates in this rebuild. There was a fallacy that because he was playing CF he was a ML CF. That’s because most people that align with narratives don’t actually follow situations — in this case they don’t watch the games — and public stats lie.
Reynolds is basically on an Andrew Benintendi trajectory. That can change of course, but so far there’s no reason to believe it will.
In this latest rebuild the Pirates seem to have done well with the pitchers part, but their position player’s are simply abysmal. All things being relative, I don’t see any team terribly interested in trading for Reynolds. While his yearly salaries aren’t particularly high, they go on for far too many years. As with Benintendi, when he crashes it’s going to get ugly.
Everyone keeps saying that Reynolds struggles defensively in the outfield but has only committed 2 errors and has 8 outfield assists
Ian Happ of the Cubs leads the league in assists with 10
Release Reynolds now! Before he crashes. Hope to get lucky that some desperate team with a awful gm claims him and his albatross of a contract.
why do you insist on saying that Cutch is planning on retiring when he’s repeatedly said he wants to come back next year
Wishing for something only comes true in fairy tales
Outrageous contract? Sarcasm or hyperbole. Very team friendly.
Samuel, I’ve likened the rebuild to restoring an old car. You say you’ve rebuilt everything. It has a custom paint job and new tires and rims
Problem is, it leaks oil in three places and the brakes are shot.
I have no idea where this team goes from here. No true help coming from the minors, especially where sorely lacking power is concerned, an owner who refuses to spend and no huge trade chips to offer. Can’t burn it all down so soon.
They missed trading guys like Reynolds, Bednar and perhaps Keller at the apex of their respective values.
I agree about Reynolds being a slightly above average player. Only here is he considered a star
I can’t imagine any market for a guy like Hayes, a fringe, glove-only 3rd baseman who conducts himself like a mannequin. Or Cruz. Someone laughed on another thread when I said Cruz is perfect as a DH, calling him a “gifted athlete”. Pity that the kid doesn’t know how to play shortstop, doesn’t know baseball and will pout if you attempt to move him.
In this setting, Reynolds is looked upon at least as a guy who hustles. One who plays most every day and puts forth the effort
Harper was moved to 1st because he was coming back from injury. Here, we have a huge hole at 1st and guys like Endy and Davis who should get reps there as both are catchers, as is Bart. There’s no reason to add Reynolds into the mess.
Of course he says that its easy money for him he doesn’t play the field anymore he doesn’t run
There’s more to playing in the field than errors. He has no range he takes poor routes to balls
SenorFigs;
I’ve thought a lot about the Pirates recently. Fantasied as to what I’d do were I the GM.
The pitching is above average. Defense starts up the middle. Priorities in order: 1) Catcher; 2) SS; 3) CF; 4) 2B. Pirates get an F here. Defense supports pitching. They count pitches thrown now — not only for starters but bullpen guys as well. Pitchers are dropping like flies in MLB. It’s imperative that if a play can be made on D, it must be made. If not, it means that pitcher is going to complete less innings that day then he should, which in turn puts strain on the bullpen. The Pirates D is awful. To use your car analogy – so while the pitching (engine) was built nicely, the car is using far too much gas getting to where it’s going.
Next I look at the speed and power. There is little of either. Contending teams have multiple ways of beating opponents. The Pirates don’t. Overall they don’t do fundamentals on D or O. They don’t play smart baseball. They don’t appear to have a team leader on the field (Harper was moved to 1B partially for that reason – to be closer to the action. It’s come out that the Phillies FO knew that move had to be made 2 years before they did it).
The reason I’ve circled back to Cruz for a few years now is that he’s the teachers pet. He does whatever he wants. The Principle and his teachers try to get him to behave, but he wants to do what he wants to do. As Mendoza has pointed out — every time he messes up a play by being lazy, out of position, or physically at a primo position like SS, it simply deflates the other players from putting out at their position (and there is no stat for this). Cruz is a 180 from Harper – who spurs his teammates on. I’ve watched the Phillies players get better in all facets of the game. The coaching staff is great The FO demands players and coaches work together. They have the 4th best pitching by ERA in all of MLB while playing in a hitters park.
There is just so much wrong with the Pirates…..
Samuel, you’ve described the situation perfectly. Imagine the frustration fans who watch this team every day feel
As a former teacher, coach, manager, player, my first problem here is the glaring lack of hustle, focus, passion. It says something that individual players often appear ok with outrageously poor at bats or defensive lapses, or that a team is so ok with losing
Jogging out ground balls and pop flies, admiring long fly balls that end up being long singles, a catcher lollypopping tosses back to the pitcher with runners on base—you wouldn’t see these things in sandlot games
To my thinking, Shelton’s approach to such things is as bad as his lineup cards and in game strategies. It’s been my experience to note that kind of lethargy and nonchalance is contagious. Just as Harper is a leader in that Philly, there is no such leader here
To me at least, this is the biggest problem
But let’s remember that you can’t get blood from a stone. Player development is poor in this franchise but all too often, kids arriving here show very little in terms of skill sets as compared to other franchises. Basics of hitting and fielding, from footwork to approach to knowledge of game situations often seem to be lacking
Cruz is the king of all of this and instead of refining his athletic abilities into being a baseball superstar, he apparently has Carte Blanche to continue to man a position he has shown little competency at while continuing his jogging
You’re right, there is so much wrong here, from top on down
Your grades are very appropriate and I can only agree. They have very little to scare opposing teams and have a manager who rarely tries to put pressure on defenses
Their hitting is one of two worst in MLB. Their team speed and defense is as you described.
And again, I have no idea where they go from here
how many solo homers did Cutch hit this year batting in the lead off position?
Now imagine how many more runs he would have driven in on those homers had Taylor reached base ahead of Cutch
He might not played the field anymore but he’s still hands down a better offensive threat than most of the guys on the team with the exception of Reynolds and Cruz
they will go towards fighting the Reds for last place, a familiar sight under this leadership
With their remaining schedule they will probably finish 2nd in the division and eclipse 82 wins
They have 6 games against the Marlins and Nats. Everyone else is battling for division crowns or WC berths. I predicted 78 wins before the season. I’m doubtful they can win 16 more, let alone 20
I don’t think Endy has the bat for 1B. You can say Davis is far worse, obviously, but he was drafted as a bat first catcher and ideally if things work out, he’d be a big bat. Endy and Bart at C would be a strength. Can’t believe how amazing Bart has been. Clutch hitter, always reliable, second to Reynolds in importance to the lineup this season.
He has a lot more power than Benintendi.
Endy is the best defensive catcher of their mlb options for next season. Put Davis at 1b and let him focus on hitting.
They play the cubs 6 more times reds 3 more times. They play Miami 3 and Washington 4. They play cards 3 more times. Cleveland is struggling kc.
The Cubs and Cards are 5-5.5 out of the WC. Still doable and have to make hay against a dead team
The Guardians have a 3 game lead and need to beat up weak sisters. KC currently has a WC berth and can’t let down now
But tell you what, I’ll see you here in October to see who gets bragging rights. You’re talking as if the Pirates *aren’t* in the conversation as being one of the worst, most anemic teams in MLB
They struck gold with Bart. Nice change
1st base is such an obvious spot for Davis but I have to wonder if the Pirates have even pondered the idea
They will recall Palacios not Delay. Cherington has a thing for Joshua
Heal quickly, Joey! Great to see you thriving outside of the Giants organization. You truly just needed a change of scenery. And an escape from Farhan Zaidi and company
Zaidi made him suck for the first 4 years of his career? OK
Bad cut by SF
They lucked out with Bailey, but what a find for PIT, who could be nice insurance if missing on 1-1 Davis. Those catcher top-10 overall picks are so risky.
Especially if they have been drafted to replace a HOFer.
I am willing to donate my hamstring to Joey Bart
Hope Davis can step up! Like to see another starter called up besides Jones. Really need 2 and go to 6 man.
Tough draft year for Pirates to get #1 overall
even if they had the number one pick, poor player development would ruin the player’s potential
Skenes was a no brainer and not a position player
That’s why they took the guy who allowed them to get an additional 1st round pick in Bubba.
When looking back on this draft, it’s become clear that the “top” talent has been pretty underwhelming. Mayer seems to be getting things on track, but the rest of the top 6 (the guys who could have been #1 overall) consists of 3 guys who have fared as bad as Hank (Leiter, Cowser and Lawler), and one guy who can’t stay healthy (Jobe).
Considering what taking Hank afforded the Pirates later in the draft (Chandler in particular), it doesn’t look as bad – 1/1 is not always a generational talent or even a bonafide MLB player. If the Pirates had taken Mayer, they wouldn’t have Chandler; they also had no way of knowing that the real talent in the draft was toward the end of the first round. People would have drawn and quartered GMBC for taking someone like Merrill at #1 overall at the time – you don’t get the benefit of hindsight when you’re picking 1/1.
The organization did not do well at managing expectations with the fans or Davis himself; he was never a tremendous hitter (just a fairly good one), and he was rushed through the system which uncovered a laundry list of flaws in his game. At this point, he has so many things to work on while still carrying a very unfair label of 1/1 – enough to make any 24-year-old turn into a head case.
Very well articulated and affirms claims that Dream has made since Davis arrived on the cusp.
Cowser is in line to be AL Rookie Of The Year.
He’s been great on D and O. Plays hard-nosed, smart baseball. Hustles all the time. A true 5-tool player.
–
Much of the reason for drafting results has to do with the organization that has a players rights, and how they work with him to adjust to professional baseball. No different
than any professional team sport.
PiratesPundit51;
For what it’s worth……
Entering that draft I read a number of publicly available analysis of the top players. The consensus on Mr. Davis was that he pretty much was an offensive Catcher.
Catching is the most important position on a team. Working with the pitching coaches and pitching staff, calling games, playing defense while getting beat up physically — all that comes before hitting. The best organization at developing Catcher’s in todays MLB is the Brewers (I can’t believe what they’ve done with Gary Sánchez). But while they’ve had a sensational track record of reworking veteran Catcher’s the past 10 years or so, they don’t draft Catchers high and haven’t had one of note that came through their system. They prefer to rework players that have had some ML experience at the position.
Point being that young Catchers in professional baseball are going to go through a huge learning curve. I don’t know that the Pirates had/have the coaching staff to teach an offensive amateur Catcher how to play the position at a professional level. Now it turns out that the man is also having difficulty hitting at the ML level.
Clint famously said: “A man must know his limitations.” Goes for organizations as well.
I like how the Orioles seem to be stocked at every position. To me, that’s essentially the Rays’ old blueprint for success in a small market. Draft well, develop—-and continue this process ad infinitum.
In this regard, something went off the rails here. Same idea, lackluster drafts and worse development
In this regard, catcher is only one more failure. The “baseball defense means being strong up the middle” never registered with the Pirates and you see this with whomever they call up
It’s funny because I remember wanting them to draft Leiter and he’s been awful.
Where does he rank amongst catchers taken first overall? Better than Steve Chilcott, worse than Danny Goodwin?
Who knows. He hasn’t had mlb quality player development yet. Only learned how to catch last winter. Unless he gets traded or builds his own training facility and teaches himself we may never know.
They should start him at catcher 5 days a week. Let granhal catch skene’s and Keller. And for God sake keep him away from Haines. And make sure the Moron and the rest of the sad sack leadership, keep the kid at one position and don’t mess with his head
I’m glad Bart is embarrassing the SF front office like this. That FO is a catastrophe, and their player development is God awful. Big market, great stadium, and this is the product? These are the players coming through? Heads should roll, starting with the PBO.