Davis wraps injury-plagued '22, set for AFL play

Keeping tabs on the Pirates' No. 1 prospect

October 3rd, 2022

Age: 23
MLB rank: 20
Team: Altoona Curve (Double-A)
ETA: 2024
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Oct. 2: Davis wraps 2022 season, set for Arizona Fall League
Henry Davis’ first full professional season began with much promise. 

Davis, who recently turned 23, dominated in Single-A Greensboro. By mid-May, Davis had earned a promotion to Double-A Altoona. The 2021 No. 1 overall pick looked well on his way to Triple-A Indianapolis by season’s end. Then, the injury bug hit.

The backstop hit the injured list with a left wrist ailment on May 18, sidelining him for about four weeks. Less than a month later, Davis was back on the injured list, bothered by the left wrist again. This time, he missed a month and a half.

Due to issues with his left wrist, Davis ended up playing just 59 games this year. Davis’ numbers were still great -- he hit .264/.380/.472 with 10 home runs and nine steals -- but he struggled down the stretch. In September, Davis posted a .716 OPS in 13 games with two home runs. Once Altoona’s season ended, six players were promoted to Indianapolis. Davis was not one of those six.

Davis has more baseball to play before the year ends. He, along with righty Quinn Priester and infielder Nick Gonzales, among others, will head to the Arizona Fall League in the coming weeks and make up for some of the time he lost this season.

Sept. 16: Launches first-inning homer
On the same day it was announced he would be heading to the 2022 Arizona Fall League, Henry Davis celebrated the occasion with a two-run home run in his first at-bat in Double-A Altoona's win over Reading. The homer was Davis' 10th of the year and gave him 42 RBIs on the year. He went 2-for-4, slapping a single in the eighth to end his night. He is now hitting .268 with an .860 OPS on the season across four levels. Gameday >

Sept. 14: Hitless in win
Henry Davis couldn't get it going at the plate in Double-A Altoona's 8-0 win over Reading, as he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. The hitless day marks just the second time Davis has failed to reach base since returning from his rehab assignment on Aug. 30. Gameday >

Sept. 13: Homers for ninth time this season
Henry Davis connected for a two-run shot in Altoona's loss to Reading, the ninth homer of his abbreviated season. It was his third homer at the Double-A level. Davis went 2-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch, coming around to score twice. He has recorded a hit in four straight contests. Gameday >

Sept. 11: Swats game-tying RBI double in loss
A day after starting in the outfield for the first time, Davis returned to his usual place behind the plate. Along with guiding Double-A Altoona's pitchers through 11 innings, he also swatted a clutch game-tying RBI double in the seventh inning against Erie. It was his only hit of the day, as he went 1-for-4. He also came around to score a run in the 10th, but the Curve could not hold on for the win. Gameday >

Sept. 10: Starts in outfield for first time
A catcher by trade, Henry Davis found himself in unfamiliar territory in Double-A Altoona's win over Erie, playing right field for the first time in his young career. It wasn't the most eventful start in the outfield, and it was the same at the plate for Davis, as he went 1-for-5 with a run scored. Gameday >

Sept. 8: Singles in quiet night
It wasn't Henry Davis' night at the plate in Double-A Altoona's 9-2 loss to Erie, as he went 1-for-4 with a single. Gameday >

Sept. 7: Hitless in win
Henry Davis couldn't get it going at the plate in Double-A Altoona's 2-1 win over Erie, as he went 0-for-4. The hitless day marks the first time Henry has failed to reach base since returning from his rehab assignment on Aug. 30. Gameday >

Sept. 6: Doubles, drives in two
Henry Davis drove in two runs with a two-out double in the seventh inning of Double-A Altoona's 8-1 win over Erie on Tuesday. Davis would steal third base a couple of pitches later and score on a throwing error from the catcher. It was Davis' eighth stolen base on the season. Gameday >

Sept. 3: Reaches twice in win
Henry Davis reached base multiple times for the third straight game on Saturday. The 22-year-old went 1-for-4 with a single and a walk during Double-A Altoona's 7-1 win over Akron. Davis also caught all nine innings behind the plate. Gameday >

Sept. 1: Walks three times in win
Henry Davis was an on-base machine during Altoona's win over Akron on Thursday. The 22-year-old caught all nine innings, going 0-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored. Davis also added an RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning. Gameday >

Aug. 30: Singles twice in Altoona return
Henry Davis appeared in his first game with Double-A Altoona since being sidelined with a wrist injury in early July. The 22-year-old served as the Curve's designated hitter, going 2-for-4 with two singles and a run scored. Gameday >

Aug. 23: Set to begin rehab assignment
On the injured list with a wrist injury since July 8, Henry Davis is scheduled to begin his rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton. This will be the first game action for MLB's No. 20 overall prospect since July 2, and he is scheduled to be the designated hitter for the Marauders.

July 8: Heads to 7-day IL with wrist injury
Henry Davis was placed on the IL with a wrist injury for the second time this season. Davis fractured his left wrist earlier in the year, which caused the 22-year-old backstop to miss nearly a month. It appears the injury may still be bothering him. The timetable for his return in unknown at this time.

July 8: Named to 2022 All-Star Futures Game roster
A summer after going first overall in the 2021 Draft, Henry Davis returns to All-Star weekend as a member of the NL team in the 2022 All-Star Futures Game. MLB Pipeline's No. 18 overall prospect has climbed the ranks quickly in his first full season of pro ball, reaching Double-A in just 41 games. Davis is hitting .268 with seven homers and an .882 OPS across four levels this season. He will be joined in L.A. by the Pirates' No. 10 prospect Mike Burrows. More >

June 16: Davis is Pirates' hottest 2021 Draft pick
While a non-displaced wrist fracture shelved him for a while, Davis has shown what all the fuss is about. He earned a promotion from High-A to Double-A after just 22 games (.341/.450/.585), and he’s just now getting his feet under him with a healthy wrist for Altoona. He has a combined .985 OPS with six homers in 29 games. Full story »

June 8: Henry Davis A-OK after HBP
Davis, the No. 20 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, is fine after being hit by a pitch on Tuesday, Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk confirmed. Tomczyk noted that when Davis got hit, the game was already at the 3 1/2-hour mark, and Davis had gotten enough work in. Davis is wearing padding on his left wrist and left elbow. Tomczyk anticipates Davis will move from the Florida Coast League to Single-A Bradenton soon.

Additionally, Tomczyk confirmed that Nick Gonzales, baseball's No. 18 prospect per MLB Pipeline, had a right heel contusion and was placed on the seven-day injured list but will be back in games this week.

June 1: Health updates from the farm
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk provided a medical update.

Henry Davis (non-displaced fracture of left wrist) has resumed all baseball activities. The goal is for him to ramp up baseball activities by week’s end and potentially transfer to Florida for more specific hitting drills.

May 10: Davis goes yard in first Double-A game
In his first Double-A plate appearance, Henry Davis got hit by a pitch. In his third, it nearly happened again.

Instead, Davis simply left the yard.

Baseball’s No. 23 overall prospect cranked a two-run homer to left field for his first Eastern League hit and reached base three times in his debut at the level as Altoona sank visiting Somerset, 4-3. Full story »