Parra trade creates opportunity for Davis
Brewers youngster will get plenty of at-bats as primary left fielder
MILWAUKEE -- Outfielder Khris Davis is another Brewers player who will benefit from the club's recent trades. After Gerardo Parra was dealt to the Orioles on Friday, left field will be primarily manned by Davis for the remainder of the season.
Milwaukee's roster has just four natural outfielders. Like Shane Peterson and Logan Schafer in center field, Davis now has time to prove he can be an everyday player. He started in left field and batted fifth against the Cubs on Sunday, going 0-for-5 in the 4-3 loss, including a critical strikeout in the ninth with two on and no outs.
As the club plays out its 2015 season, manager Craig Counsell hopes Davis can take full advantage of the opportunity.
"I'm not going to commit to he's going to play every day, but he's going to play," Counsell said. "He's going to get regular at-bats. He's got two months left, 175, 180 plate appearances left. He'll have plenty of time to have a good season."
"For a lot of young guys this could be their only opportunity they ever get to prove themselves as an everyday player," Ryan Braun said. "If everybody embraces that challenge, and recognizes it over the next couple of months, they can establish themselves as Major League starters."
Davis split time in left before Parra was traded. The 27-year-old Davis opened the season batting .250 with five home runs before hitting the disabled list on May 31 after tearing the meniscus in his right knee. He missed 35 games.
It's been a similar story for Davis since returning from injury, but the Brewers would like to see that change with consistent at-bats moving forward. Davis posted a .949 OPS when he reached the big leagues with Milwaukee in 2013, suggesting there's more in his bat than what he's shown this season.
"There's no question Khris shows you why you want to put him in the middle of the lineup," Counsell said. "We're looking for everybody, when they're a young player, to take the next step. You're always looking for guys to take the next step."
Counsell also admitted that the Brewers are still learning what they have in Davis.
"Khris is a little more than a year and a half into his big league career. That's not that far," Counsell said. "You're still working for what you got, for sure."