Chase Davis

[11WSChamps]

He’s definitely a good prospect. I would like to see the team leave him where he is for most, if not all the season. The reason I think he, as well as many other of their top prospects, struggle so much, is that they never let them get settled in at any level. As soon as they start doing well, they promote them up to the next level. Hitting is a lot of just being confident and comfortable at the plate. Most of these guys are never allowed to do that. One of the reasons I think that the catchers have been some of our better hitters is because they have been left at mostly one level, due to their being guys being productive at each level. There has not been any room to promote them. I think if Davis is left where he’s at, we will get a lot better picture of just what kind of a player he is.

Agreed.

Let him marinate and get comfortable so when he does move up the progression will be a natural one and not knee-jerk.

The ballclub isn't going anywhere soon. Davis has time.

[rockondlouie]

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.

[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?

[Talkin' Baseball]

Can we agree that he is doing pretty well where he is? Not flawless,but generally doing well. Can we agree that he is moving up the ladder? Can we agree that his stat line is improving as he goes? Can we agree that a promotion to AAA, maybe even later this year is not out of the question? Can we agree that he is one of the most promising prospects we have, and is worth monitoring? I believe all of these things, and at least for today, it makes me happy about him.

Absolutely....

But....

When one considers Carlson, Walker, Gorman, Burleson...we can certainly understand the caution of CT veterans, can we not?

It has to do entirely with expectations. This is both the fault of the organization and the fans. They hype these guys ahead of time and we are glad to go along. We are looking for some reason for hope. When we are willing to be hopeful about prospects they don't have to go get players with a major league track record. Both groups are so invested in the hype train that the facts can't keep up with the hopes. We end up mad at the player because he never did become what we thought he would. When a player like Davis shows actual improvement, be happy about it. Promote him when it makes sense. Promote him again when it is warranted. We set ourselves up to be unhappy when we think of him today as Ray Lankford. Let's see what he does. I look forward to it.

[rockondlouie]

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.

[Futuregm2]

He’s been very good defensively this year, too. Crav shared a video of him making 4 highlight plays in a week

[An Old Friend]

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.

[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.

[Sweet Jones]

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.

Well...to be fair to Oscar Taveras, it's hard to maximize talent and meet your potential after you die at age 22.

In fairness, Oscar's immaturity, irresponsibility and lack of commitment to his craft, led to his death. Kinda hard to maximize your talent and meet your potential when you don't have the work ethic

What's the point of this? Seriously.

[craviduce]

he was hitting .279 coming into last night, 3 hits in 5 AB's gave him .303....we're still in small Sample Size territory. On a positive note, as it was pointed out much earlier in this thread, he lowered his K rate to 29%

[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

[An Old Friend]

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.

[AnExParrot]

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.

Well...to be fair to Oscar Taveras, it's hard to maximize talent and meet your potential after you die at age 22.

Aside from that, who has called Davis a "can't miss" prospect?

[rockondlouie]

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.

[renostl]

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?

Does he still carry that long swing?

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Aside from that, who has called Davis a "can't miss" prospect?

This. A lot of people, myself included, were getting ready to write him off at the beginning of last year. I don't think anyone things he's a can't miss prospect, but he really started playing well last year and it's carried over to this year. Sure, there's no guarantee that he'll sustain it, but it's nice actually getting to see him play well. It reminds you of his potential.