25-Year-Old Catcher Returns to Lineup in Battle vs. Reds
The Pittsburgh Pirates are going to bring back catcher Henry Davis to the majors following an injury to team prospect Joey Bart. Bart exited Friday's game against the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning due to lower back discomfort after his first plate appearance. Manager Derek Shelton detailed on the Apple TV telecast that Bart's back "locked up on him." Although Bart is day-by-day as the Pirates continue to evaluate his status, his absence has left a gap behind the plate. In the meantime, Endy Rodriguez, who started Friday's game at first base, shifted to catcher for the last 5-3 defeat against Cincinnati.
Davis, the 2021 MLB Draft's first overall pick, will now return to the majors for the first time in 2025. He began this season in Triple-A with Indianapolis and had encouraging numbers at the plate, slashing.286/.355/.393 in eight games. Davis also showed promise during spring training, hitting .250 with two home runs, including a grand slam against Baltimore, and five RBIs in 15 Grapefruit League games. While the Pirates have not yet made the corresponding roster move necessary to bring in Davis, he is anticipated to split catching responsibilities with Rodriguez as Bart recuperates.
Davis, 25, made his debut with the Pirates on June 19th, 2023, and gained fame a month later by being the first player ever to record two home runs against Shohei Ohtani in the same contest. He concluded that first-year season with a .214 batting average, seven home runs, and 24 RBIs in 62 games. While there were glimpses of pop, Davis was a struggles-at-the-plate hitter in 2024. He batted just .144 with a whopping 43% strikeout rate in 104 at-bats in 37 games, and he was then optioned to Triple-A in early May.
Injury also played a role in Davis's struggling 2024 campaign, which was highlighted by a June concussion and a hand injury that landed him on the injured list to complete the season. However, he came back strong in the minors, hitting .307 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs in 59 games, 57 of them in Triple-A. Now back with the big-league team, Davis will look to capitalize on this new opportunity and solidify himself as a reliable contributor for Pittsburgh behind the plate.
