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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?

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.

Cranny wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 08:46 am 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.

He is certainly worth paying attention to. He's getting to the upper levels of the minors and is actually putting up better numbers as he climbs. That's a great profile at this stage.

An Old Friend wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:02 am

Cranny wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 08:46 am 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.

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.

Lloyd Braun wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:17 am 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.

To really max out talent and performance, been since Pujols. As for the next, who knows. So many yo-yo years.

Lloyd Braun wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:17 am 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.

It’s getting very tiresome, isn’t it? At some point, one might hit. But there sure is a long line of busts. You probably named the 3 biggest busts, but there are many others who didn’t even come close. Bader, a few catchers, Flaherty, TO, Piscotty and others were generally disappointments.

I hope the Cards are patient with Davis, Wetherholt, Bernal and other top prospects. Rushing them to the bigs before their ready and proven is a mistake. Walker is a good example.

redbirdfan51 wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:41 am I hope the Cards are patient with Davis, Wetherholt, Bernal and other top prospects. Rushing them to the bigs before their ready and proven is a mistake. Walker is a good example.

Especially with that strikeout rate. Best to take it slowly with him, to the point where he’s abusing the ball so badly it’s pure stupidity keeping him in the minors.

Lloyd Braun wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:17 am 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.

Cranny wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 08:46 am 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?

Maybe? Maybe Ray...or maybe Dylan Carlson?

Hard to say....

russellhammond wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:49 am

Lloyd Braun wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:17 am 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

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.

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 10:12 am 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?

redbirdfan51 wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:41 am I hope the Cards are patient with Davis, Wetherholt, Bernal and other top prospects. Rushing them to the bigs before their ready and proven is a mistake. Walker is a good example.

It can be for some but not all . Bryce Harper was 'rushed' to the big leagues as a teenager and he turned out great .
Back in my Wisconsin days, I remember the Brewers starting an 18 year old SS .. Was he 'ready and proven' nope .. but they played him and he went on to become a Hall of Famer .. Robin Yount Last year the Brewers played 20 year old Jackson Chourio ..(only couple games at AAA the previous year after killing AA ball. The kid started slow and then came on like gangbusters.. batted .275 with .791 OPS with 21 HR's and 22 SB . 3rd rookie of year voting. Was Chourio 'rushed ' ? Brewers would say nope !