Chase Davis

[2ninr]

There’s been a lot of hoopla over JJ Wetherholt, but should some attention also be paid to Davis this season? He was also a 1st round draft pick (#21 in 2023). His junior at U. of Arizona in 2023 he slashed
.362/.489/.742/1.231 in the tough PAC-12 conference. Had 21 HRs and 74 RBI in only 57 games. In his first full season as a pro in 2024 he was promoted from Palm Beach to Peoria to Springfield over a 5 month period. Had some trouble getting settled in. But this season, at Springfield he’s started out strong slashing .303/.427/.439/.866. Is he another possible “stud” who may be starting to come on strong now? Maybe a future Ray Lankford type?

29% strikeout rate and a slash line inflated by an unsustainable BABIP

Progress, yes, but still a ways to go.

29% SO rate? Wow. That’s a little tidbit of info that might have been nice to know. Thanks for sharing the rest of the story. Can’t count on the sunshine pumpers to list all the salient facts.

It's why it is so important to not scout the slash line. It doesn't tell you all that much, especially this early.

Promising start? Yes
BABIP - .439 --> completely unsustainable. How much is that buoying his batting average? 100 points?
K-rate - 29.3%, up from 23.8% in 2024... so he's having trouble with higher level pitching
BB-rate - 15.9% --> showing excellent plate discipline, elite walk rate

A comp to Ray Lankford is absurd. Lankford was an explosive athlete where Davis is much more of a fundamentally geared player. He's not Lankford in any way other than being a left handed hitting black outfielder.

Age-22 minor league seasons:
Lankford - .317/.396/.488, more walks (65) than strikeouts (57); in 574 PA - 28 doubles, 11 triples, 12 HR, 98 RBI, 38 SB (all in Double-A)
Davis - .253/.350/.417, double the strikeouts (113) than walks (56); in 475 PA - 29 doubles, 1 triple, 12 HR, 70 RBI, 9 SB (mostly Single-A)

It's a super lazy comp.

I like Davis a bit and he's showing capable as a CF. I think his most likely path to the majors is as a strong side platoon only. I don't expect him to hit lefties enough to really ever face them in the majors.

I'm not sure Lankford was under-rated, but it seenms like he just kind of flew under the radar. My favorite Cardinal for a long time. Pretty sure he was the all time hr leader at Busch 1

I grew up in Springfield, IL, and remember seeing him play Single-A there when I was a kid - it was a fun team with Bernard Gilkey and Rod Brewer, so it was exciting to see him move to the majors so quickly.

Zeile and Lankford came through in back to back years and we went to quite a few of their games. I still have a bunch of Todd Zeile baseball cards, he and Ray were basically my brother and I's favorite young players coming up in the early 90's.

Yea I loved both of those guys especially Gilkey. He went to Stlouis u city high. I was heartbroken when he was traded

[Cranny]

Another can't miss top prospect?
Just like Oscar Tavares, Jordan Walker and Alex Reyes huh?

Let me know the next time a single Cardinal prospect with can't-miss-expectations actually meets their potential.

^^^THIS^^^

And for cranny to say "another stud"

The only one I have high hopes for is J.J.W. since he'll be getting the full C. Bloom player development system from the get go.

Rock -

You have absolutely no idea who might be a future stud or not. Was Adolis Garcia tagged as a future stud? Was Alcantara? Was Gallen?

And neither do you and you're the one who used the term!

Your history in CT listing dozens of Cardinals prospects as "future stars", the vast majority who have become suspects, is well known.

We all know what you're doing, promoting CHEAP future labor for your hero BDWJr.

rock - don't make a fool out of yourself. I have never "predicted" future studs or future stars. I have just said that you never know. And people who say they do know are making fools out of themselves. Do I follow the minor leagues? Yes. Do I post some stats when someone is doing well. Yes. But I don't predict.

Say's the clown who makes a fool out himself daily as BDWJr and Mo's toady front office footstool.

We all know your post history pumping up minor leaguers who rarely even make it to St. Louis for more than a cup of coffee.

Hit me up when Chase becomes a "stud" in MLB.

Rock - stop being insulting, childish, and accusatory.

I simply said that Davis might be someone to watch this season, along with Wetherholt. When you look at our minor league position players, there really aren't that many to get a fan excited. It's not like pitching, where we can identify a decent of potentials.

On the position side of the ledger, there's Wetherholt, Davis, Crooks, and Bernal. Maybe some potential with Cho and Baez. That's really about it. Outside of Koperniak (at his age) can you think of any others?

[Futuregm2]

Lankford stole 40+ bases twice and 30+ another time. I doubt Davis gets half of those totals in a season.

[Cranny]

Lankford stole 40+ bases twice and 30+ another time. I doubt Davis gets half of those totals in a season.

I agree. But he may have similar power to Lankford. It would be great if he could become a 25 HR guy in LF, paired with Scott's speed in CF.

[OldRed]

Lankford stole 40+ bases twice and 30+ another time. I doubt Davis gets half of those totals in a season.

I agree. But he may have similar power to Lankford. It would be great if he could become a 25 HR guy in LF, paired with Scott's speed in CF.

And he may not.

[craviduce]

Lankford stole 40+ bases twice and 30+ another time. I doubt Davis gets half of those totals in a season.

I agree. But he may have similar power to Lankford. It would be great if he could become a 25 HR guy in LF, paired with Scott's speed in CF.

right now....Davis is really aggressive in the OF. He has some speed, probably a 55/80 speed. Scott graded out as an 80/80 speed. Big GAP there.

Davis hits it on the ground too much to realize his power potential. Same with Walker. Davis doesn't possess Walker's EV....so the Lankford comp doesn't really apply to Davis...I'm afraid.

[Cranny]

Lankford stole 40+ bases twice and 30+ another time. I doubt Davis gets half of those totals in a season.

I agree. But he may have similar power to Lankford. It would be great if he could become a 25 HR guy in LF, paired with Scott's speed in CF.

And he may not.

In the tough PAC-12, in the year he was drafted out of U. of Arizona, Red, he had 21 home runs in 57 games. The dimensions of the U. of Arizona baseball stadium are 366 ft. in left field, 410 ft. in CF, and 349 ft. in right field. They're probably pretty close to that in other PAC-12 stadiums. I would say he might have a smidgen of power.

[Talkin' Baseball]

Unless the wheels come off, he may be in St Louis sometime next year and we will get a better look. Until then, I am pleased with where he is and how he is doing. It's kind of fun to watch someone who is trending up. We sometimes focus too much on all they is and all they ain't.

[Cranny]

Unless the wheels come off, he may be in St Louis sometime next year and we will get a better look. Until then, I am pleased with where he is and how he is doing. It's kind of fun to watch someone who is trending up. We sometimes focus too much on all they is and all they ain't.

Very well put.

[Goldfan]

Another can't miss top prospect?
Just like Oscar Tavares, Jordan Walker and Alex Reyes huh?

Let me know the next time a single Cardinal prospect with can't-miss-expectations actually meets their potential.

^^^THIS^^^

And for cranny to say "another stud"

The only one I have high hopes for is J.J.W. since he'll be getting the full C. Bloom player development system from the get go.

Rock -

You have absolutely no idea who might be a future stud or not. Was Adolis Garcia tagged as a future stud? Was Alcantara? Was Gallen?

And neither do you and you're the one who used the term!

Your history in CT listing dozens of Cardinals prospects as "future stars", the vast majority who have become suspects, is well known.

We all know what you're doing, promoting CHEAP future labor for your hero BDWJr.

rock - don't make a fool out of yourself. I have never "predicted" future studs or future stars. I have just said that you never know. And people who say they do know are making fools out of themselves. Do I follow the minor leagues? Yes. Do I post some stats when someone is doing well. Yes. But I don't predict.

Cranny, the year the season ended with 2 SP on the ML roster…..named Miles and Matz…..that Spring you claimed the SP staff was so deep……that Mo wouldn’t know what to do with the SEVEN guys……

[NYCardsFan]

Lankford stole 40+ bases twice and 30+ another time. I doubt Davis gets half of those totals in a season.

I agree. But he may have similar power to Lankford. It would be great if he could become a 25 HR guy in LF, paired with Scott's speed in CF.

And he may not.

In the tough PAC-12, in the year he was drafted out of U. of Arizona, Red, he had 21 home runs in 57 games. The dimensions of the U. of Arizona baseball stadium are 366 ft. in left field, 410 ft. in CF, and 349 ft. in right field. They're probably pretty close to that in other PAC-12 stadiums. I would say he might have a smidgen of power.

Hi Corbett Field has an elevation of 2,480 ft. That’s almost 2.5x the altitude of any MLB stadium not named Coors Field.

[An Old Friend]

Lankford stole 40+ bases twice and 30+ another time. I doubt Davis gets half of those totals in a season.

I agree. But he may have similar power to Lankford. It would be great if he could become a 25 HR guy in LF, paired with Scott's speed in CF.

And he may not.

In the tough PAC-12, in the year he was drafted out of U. of Arizona, Red, he had 21 home runs in 57 games. The dimensions of the U. of Arizona baseball stadium are 366 ft. in left field, 410 ft. in CF, and 349 ft. in right field. They're probably pretty close to that in other PAC-12 stadiums. I would say he might have a smidgen of power.

Power with composite bat that hasn’t translated to a wood bat. He was dreadful in the Cape Cod League. It was the biggest red flag in his profile, that his power wouldn’t translate with a wood bat.

[Cranny]

Lankford stole 40+ bases twice and 30+ another time. I doubt Davis gets half of those totals in a season.

I agree. But he may have similar power to Lankford. It would be great if he could become a 25 HR guy in LF, paired with Scott's speed in CF.

And he may not.

In the tough PAC-12, in the year he was drafted out of U. of Arizona, Red, he had 21 home runs in 57 games. The dimensions of the U. of Arizona baseball stadium are 366 ft. in left field, 410 ft. in CF, and 349 ft. in right field. They're probably pretty close to that in other PAC-12 stadiums. I would say he might have a smidgen of power.

Hi Corbett Field has an elevation of 2,480 ft. That’s almost 2.5x the altitude of any MLB stadium not named Coors Field.

Gee, NY. That’s highly interesting and something that should definitely be taken into consideration for his home games, or about half the schedule. Really great input.

[NYCardsFan]

Lankford stole 40+ bases twice and 30+ another time. I doubt Davis gets half of those totals in a season.

I agree. But he may have similar power to Lankford. It would be great if he could become a 25 HR guy in LF, paired with Scott's speed in CF.

And he may not.

In the tough PAC-12, in the year he was drafted out of U. of Arizona, Red, he had 21 home runs in 57 games. The dimensions of the U. of Arizona baseball stadium are 366 ft. in left field, 410 ft. in CF, and 349 ft. in right field. They're probably pretty close to that in other PAC-12 stadiums. I would say he might have a smidgen of power.

Hi Corbett Field has an elevation of 2,480 ft. That’s almost 2.5x the altitude of any MLB stadium not named Coors Field.

Gee, NY. That’s highly interesting and something that should definitely be taken into consideration for his home games, or about half the schedule. Really great input.

Gee, Cranny. That's why citing a park's basic dimensions while omitting a pretty important piece of context is misleading. And it's also why the dimensions at Hi Corbett Field are NOT "pretty close to that in other PAC-12 stadiums."

[Cranny]

Lankford stole 40+ bases twice and 30+ another time. I doubt Davis gets half of those totals in a season.

I agree. But he may have similar power to Lankford. It would be great if he could become a 25 HR guy in LF, paired with Scott's speed in CF.

And he may not.

In the tough PAC-12, in the year he was drafted out of U. of Arizona, Red, he had 21 home runs in 57 games. The dimensions of the U. of Arizona baseball stadium are 366 ft. in left field, 410 ft. in CF, and 349 ft. in right field. They're probably pretty close to that in other PAC-12 stadiums. I would say he might have a smidgen of power.

Hi Corbett Field has an elevation of 2,480 ft. That’s almost 2.5x the altitude of any MLB stadium not named Coors Field.

Gee, NY. That’s highly interesting and something that should definitely be taken into consideration for his home games, or about half the schedule. Really great input.

Gee, Cranny. That's why citing a park's basic dimensions while omitting a pretty important piece of context is misleading. And it's also why the dimensions at Hi Corbett Field are NOT "pretty close to that in other PAC-12 stadiums."

Absolutely wonderful input, NY. You should be ultra proud and reach around and give yourself a hearty pat on the back.

[icon]

He is 23 and just starting AA. The clock is ticking. College hitters who don't progress quickly in the minors are a problem. He'll be at least 25 before he's ready for MLB if ever. Give me the hot high school and International hitting prospects any day over the college guys who are using metal bats.