Henry Davis will have some time to improve his performance in the minor leagues. The Pittsburgh Pirates sent the former top draft pick to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday and brought back Yasmani Grandal as their catcher.
Davis has struggled at the plate, hitting just .162 with no home runs and four RBIs in 23 games for Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old, selected first overall in the 2021 amateur draft, has struck out 29 times in 83 at-bats.
Initially drafted as a catcher, Davis mostly played in right field and as a designated hitter during his rookie season in 2023. However, this season he has primarily been behind the plate due to injuries to Endy Rodriguez and Grandal, who signed with the Pirates in February.
While Davis has been decent defensively, his power from last year seems to have disappeared. Only three of his 11 hits have been for extra bases, and his slugging percentage is just .206.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton sees sending Davis down as an opportunity for him to regroup.
Grandal, 35, had been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, which kept him out for most of spring training. He performed well during his rehab stint in Indianapolis, batting .257 with two doubles, a home run, and 11 RBIs in nine games.
The Pirates have struggled lately, losing 13 of their last 16 games. The offense has been their main issue, with the team scoring two runs or less in 12 of those losses.
Shelton believes that Grandal’s return will provide a boost to the team’s pitch sequencing and planning. Additionally, his left-handed bat, combined with his switch-hitting ability, adds versatility to the lineup.
