This story was originally apart of our 2016 New York Yankees Top 50 Prospect Profiles.
Rookie Davis came into the 2015 season as a pitcher that many people didn’t know about. After putting forth an excellent 2015 campaign, he ascended towards the top of the Yankees prospect board and gained national attention.
The New York Yankees chose Davis out of high school in the 14th round of the 2011 Major League draft. At the time, they were hoping that his enticing combination of size and power would eventually develop into a Major League pitcher.
By no means has he developed quickly, but he has steadily honed his skills to become one of the best pitching prospects that the Yankees have. Davis is yet another example of a middle-round pitching selection that the farm system has been able to develop into a projectable and legitimate asset.
Davis’s recipe to success is strikeouts, limiting walks and controlling the strike zone.
Davis spent time in Advanced-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton this past season, where he pitched to a 3.86 ERA, averaged 8.9 K/9 and issued only 26 walks in 130.2 innings pitched.
Projection
He’s a power right-hander that reaches the mid-90’s with his fastball and mixes it up with a curveball and change-up to keep hitters off-balance.
If everything develops as expected, the Yankees have a future big league starter. If not they will have a power bullpen arm.
2016 Outlook
Davis has the size, arm and repertoire to become a solid pitcher, but there is still work to be done. Ultimately, development of his secondaries and further fine tuning of his command will determine his role in the Major Leagues.
Update
Rookie Davis was traded to the Cincinnati Reds with Eric Jagielo, Caleb Cotham and Tony Renda, in exchange for Aroldis Chapman today.
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