'Bulldog': How Pirates catcher Henry Davis improved defense to make push for starting job

When the Pittsburgh Pirates told Henry Davis to concentrate on catching this offseason so he could report to spring training at his natural position, it was all the 2021 No. 1 overall draft pick needed to hear.

Davis is nothing if not renowned for his work ethic, and Pirates teammates marvel at his regimen.

“I do what I need to do, regardless of any external circumstance,” Davis said. “That’s one of the things I definitely pride myself on. Discipline doesn’t change. I’m staying with that.”

Davis’ discipline is about to be rewarded, as the Pirates catcher appears positioned to win the starting job — and not just by default, despite Yasmani Grandal missing almost a month with plantar fasciitis — because of his play at the plate and behind it in a strong spring.

One talent evaluator told TribLive that the 6-foot, 220-pound Davis remains “rough but better than he used to be” as a backstop, noting that the noise in his bat is louder than his catching. After Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox, Davis is slashing .316/.400/.684 with two doubles, four home runs and 11 RBIs in 13 Grapefruit League games.

In other words, he’s no Austin Hedges.

Former Pirates catcher Michael McKenry, now an analyst for SportsNet Pittsburgh, credits Davis for improving his framing and receiving by switching his stance to having one knee down and the other leg outstretched.

“It’s been phenomenal how much better he’s been,” McKenry said Saturday afternoon during the Pirates-Boston Red Sox telecast. “He’s setting up a lot later, and that’s really helping him. That glove doesn’t leave ground too quickly. Last year, he was coming up too fast and almost stabbing at that ball. Now, he’s staying down, getting lower. He really spent a lot of time on mobility, and that stance really helps him be in a good position to move properly, left and right and up and down. He’s been really good at stealing some pitches above the zone.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said he is “extremely pleased” with Davis’ play behind the plate this spring, pointing to his improvement as proof that an offseason working with Pirates pitchers in Florida paid off.

“It’s a credit to Henry with the fact of how hard he’s worked this offseason and the time that he’s put in,” Shelton said. “The dedication he put in to become a better receiver is really showing itself.”

At the outset of spring training, general manager Ben Cherington said the Pirates were “fully committed” to Davis catching, ruling out a return to right field or a hybrid role that involved serving as designated hitter.

“We believe in Henry Davis,” Cherington said. “I don’t recall being around too many players in my career who take their craft as seriously as Henry, who work as hard at his craft. Whatever is in front of him, whatever the goal is, he’s going to go after it like not many people would. Over time, that just gives us a lot of confidence that he’s going to figure out whatever it is he needs to figure out to be the player he’s capable of being in the big leagues.”

Cherington also stressed that Davis had started only 78 games behind the plate as a professional, with only four above Double-A and two innings in the majors.

Cherington called what Davis has done defensively “really encouraging” during a visit to the SportsNet Pittsburgh broadcast booth in a March 16 game against the Detroit Tigers.

“Unless you’re really focused on him, you just don’t notice him, in a good way,” Cherington said. “The receiving’s been good. He’s keeping the ball in front of him. Pitchers’ feedback has been really positive. We like what he’s doing with the game-calling. He has plenty of arm strength.”

Through 13 Grapefruit League games this spring, Davis has caught 77 innings without a passed ball or an error while showing off his arm strength by throwing out two baserunners and turning a double play. When Jared Jones threw a wild pitch in the fourth inning against the Red Sox on Saturday, Davis caught the ricochet off the wall but made an off-target throw to second base. An inning later, Davis threw out Eddy Alvarez on an attempted steal of second.

Pirates pitchers have noticed a difference in Davis behind the plate. Jones, a battery mate at High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona, called Davis a “bulldog” and said he is sticking the low pitches instead of letting them drop, thereby getting more strikes called for his pitchers.

“He’s gotten a lot better,” Jones said. “I always liked having him behind the plate catching me because we have the mindset: It’s (forget) you.’ That’s the type of guy I like catching me. He wants to work for guys. Honestly, I think his catching game has improved over the offseason.”

Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes, a right-hander who was the 2023 No. 1 overall pick, also was complimentary of Davis after throwing bullpen sessions with him at Pirate City all offseason and in games this spring.

“He’s the type of catcher you want to throw to,” Skenes said, “because he likes to talk and think the game.”

The defense was the biggest question mark for Davis, who was promoted to the majors last June 19 to add some pop to a Pirates lineup that lacked it. Davis slashed .213/.302/.351 but had 10 doubles, seven homers and 24 RBIs in 62 games, becoming the first MLB player to take two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani deep twice in one game before missing nearly a month with a right hand strain.

The tradeoff was that Davis played primarily in right field, where his experience was limited to 130 innings over 18 games in the minors. While his arm played, Davis often looked lost on how to track balls in the air and field them in the grass. He was behind fellow rookie Endy Rodriguez and Jason Delay at his natural position.

Even as Davis competed for a spot on the active roster at catcher, he remained open-minded about being ready to return to right field or designated hitter, if needed, if it means staying in the majors.

“I’m a baseball player,” Davis said. “The bat’s my carrying tool, and I can impact the game the most with that, but I do also feel like I bring more to the table. I’m just trying to help the team in whatever way I can, but whatever the team needs from me, that’s what I have to be ready to do so keeping myself in that position where things change. We’ve got a pretty talented team, so whatever they need from me. … Being able to do whatever they need of me and being a good soldier is important.”

With Rodriguez out of the season after undergoing elbow surgery, the Pirates signed Grandal to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with incentives last month. That put Davis, Delay and Ali Sanchez in competition for the other catching spot on the active roster. Davis is appreciative of how Grandal, a two-time All-Star and 12-year veteran, is paying it forward by pouring his wisdom about playing the position into the young catchers.

“It’s been incredible, really,” Davis said. “He just knows better than me. He truly does. There’s no supplement or artificial way to create what he’s accumulated in terms of wealth of knowledge of the game. He knows a lot more than me in just about everything. I think it’s a blessing for me that he’s willing to contribute the way he’s doing it. It’s not just like a tip of the cap. It’s definitely outpouring and investing in me, so I’m very grateful and understanding that I don’t know better and taking every last bit of what he’s saying and really trying to apply it to me because I know he cares.”

What Davis cares most about is winning, and he wants to be judged not just by how he hits or catches but rather by how it’s reflected in the Pirates’ record.

“I think the evaluation for me is just if I’m helping the team win,” Davis said. “You can go in-depth all you want, but if I’m helping the team win, I’m happy with my performance.”