UPDATED Mack's Top Draft Prospects - #3 - C - Henry Davis

 Henry Davis

Mack's spin - 

I pick Davis at #3 for a couple of reasons...

1. There will be an early run on quality college bats because, frankly, there aren't many in this draft.

2. Everyone wants the hardest thing to find in baseball... a star catcher.

3. He's a beast. 

 

C    6-2    195     Louisville 

5-6-21 - MLB - 5-6 Mock Draft-

 

6. D-backs: Henry Davis, C, Louisville

 

In a down year for college bats, Davis is perhaps the only preseason projected first-rounder in that group to exceed expectations, batting .403/.520/.683 with more walks (29) and extra-base hits (19) than strikeouts (15) while continuing to display plus-plus arm strength.

 

 5-4-21 - BA -

 

Henry Davis, C, Louisville — No. 5 (+2)

 

Davis isn’t a significant riser in terms of the number of spots he’s moved up the board, but the way upper-level scouts are talking about him in terms of realistic landing spots in the draft is seriously heating up. And it’s no wonder why—after going 5-for-12 this weekend against Clemson with his ninth home run of the season, Davis is hitting .400/.520/.667 with 29 walks and 15 strikeouts. That’s a .400 batting line over 37 games and 135 at-bats. That’s loud! And even if his hitting ability wasn’t enough to overwhelm any criticisms about his defensive ability at catcher, think about this: what is the sort of catcher that’s going to be valuable at the major league level when the strike zone is electronic and pitch-framing suddenly becomes irrelevant? A catcher who can block, call a game and control the running game (and hit the ball). With an arm that grades out as at least a 70, Davis has that skillset.

 

 4-29-21 - Baseball Prospect Report mock 3.0 -

 

6. Arizona Diamondbacks: Henry Davis, C, Louisville

 

Davis is having a tremendous season, showing notable ability offensively and defensively. He will stick behind the plate long-term due to his above-average arm strength. Offensively, he has solid plate discipline and raw power to make an impact as a right-handed hitter in pro ball.

 

 4-26-21 - mlb.com mock draft -

 

6) D-backs: Henry Davis, C, Louisville

 

Davis has separated himself a bit as the top college bat, hitting over or close to .400 with power all year, while showing he should be fine behind the plate. This is also the first spot I’m hearing Oklahoma high school right-hander Jackson Jobe’s name.

 

 4-22-21 - pipeline podcast mock -

 

6) D-backs (Mayo): Henry Davis, C, Louisville -- He’s risen to the top of the college bat crop by hitting over .400 with power this spring, combining that with a plus arm behind the plate lands him firmly in top 10 talk.

 

 4-19-21 - TTF - Mock 2.0 -

 

6. Arizona Diamondbacks: Henry Davis, C, Louisville

 

The New York native wasn’t on anyone’s list in the first round to start the season. Which is sort of odd because he’s been better each year of colligate play. Davis isn’t just a defensive catcher, he can hit too, and that seems to be where the trend is coming now the last few drafts for catchers. If you can hit, you’re going to be selected in the first round.

 

 4-19-21 - The Athletic MLB  @TheAthleticMLB

 

Louisville catcher Henry Davis has an incredible eye at the plate: rarely swinging and missing, making hard contact with power and showing a plus arm with good hands on defense.

 So why isn’t he the top prospect in this draft class?

  

4-7-21 - Joe Doyle  @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Another EV over 108mph for Henry Davis. He's got a handful of them this year.

 

 4-4-21 - Prospect Live - Week 7 -

 

HENRY DAVIS, C, LOUISVILLE

 

7 FOR 15 (.467/.619/1.000), 2 HR, 2 2B, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 3 HBP, 2 K

 

It wouldn’t be a Stock Watch without some mention of Henry Davis now would it? Davis was right back to his usual ways this weekend turning in solid AB after solid AB against Wake Forest, helping the Cardinals take the series.

 

There’s not much left to say about Davis as a pro prospect. He can hit, the power’s there, he’s got a huge arm, he’s a talented runner and he’s at least an above average defensive catcher. There’s questions on his swing path at times, but even that’s ticky-tacky on the pros/cons chart by now. He very much so figures to be a top ten pick in July.

 

It’s been a big year for Davis who’s flirting with the Golden Spikes award here in April. He’s batting .385 with a .492 on-base percentage, slugging .677. Davis has almost as many stolen bases (8) as he has strikeouts (10) on the season. He’s squarely one of the best players in college baseball this season.

 

 3-30-21 - Prospects Worldwide -

 

4. C Henry Davis | School: Louisville | B / T: R / R | Ht: 6’2 | Wt: 195lbs | Age: 21.8

 

Davis comes in as the unquestioned best Catcher in the class, and arguable the top position player. Extremely athletic behind the plate and grades as a Plus Defender. A Double-plus Arm that is strong and accurate. Quick out of the squat. A Flattish bat path, that has added some loft this season, with an open stance, wide base, and he really covers the outside edge and the entire plate extremely well at the plate. With an Above-average Hit tool to go with a strong OBP skills and low strikeout numbers. The Power at the next level has some question marks, but potential for 10-13 HR per season on avg is easily within reach. There’s a strong floor here with Davis and a chance to become one of the better all around catchers in baseball with a bit of a boost to the offensive game. But regardless, this is a big league caliber backstop, and one a team should rely on for many years to come.

 

 3-26-21 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Louisville C Henry Davis finding more and more green grass. Spit on two pretty good changeups before pulling the hands in to muscle this ball into left field. Average back up to .400 on the year

 

 3-14-21 - Joe Doyle - JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Wind can't do anything about this one. Henry Davis with a scorched first inning double.

 

Davis entered the day slashing .367/.476/.592 w/3 HRs, 5 2Bs, 14 RBI and 7 SB in 14 games.

 

 3-10-21 - draft risers -

 

Henry Davis, C, Louisville (No. 19)

 

.395/.520/.684, 3 HR, 2 2B, 8 BB, 3 K, 5-for-5 SB

 

College catchers can easily move up draft boards with strong production, so it’ll be interesting to see what teams do with Davis, who entered the season as a first-round talent and has continued to impress with the bat.

 

Davis has collected hits in all 11 games so far this season, including four multi-hit games and he has great zone discipline. Like Frelick, Davis is getting the ball in the air more than he has in the past, but most of his extra-base hits have come against secondary stuff or lower-velocity fastballs. How he handles 90-plus velocity against ACC pitching will likely be something scouts bear down on the rest of the season.

 

Baserunners are 2-for-6 in stolen base attempts against Davis, with one of those stolen bases coming in a first-and-third, no-throw situation. His good throws to second have been in the 1.95-2.00-second pop-time range, and Davis has also aggressively hunted for backpicks at first and second base—keeping runners on their toes.

 

Davis’ preseason to-do list was built around proving his offensive game this season and he’s done just that.

 

 2-26-21 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Another Henry Davis missile. 7-pitch at-bat results in a single rocketed into LF.

 

Davis has more homers (5) than he has strikeouts (4) in his last 19 games.

 

 2-15-21 - CBS - Top 50 -

 

8. Henry Davis, C, Louisville

 

Don't sleep on Davis as a dark horse to go in the top five. He'll enter the season having appeared in 59 collegiate games (including the Cape Cod League), during which he recorded 22 strikeouts and 21 walks. Davis is short to the ball, utilizing a compact swing that sees him wrap his barrel and keep it tight to his body. He's strong and sturdily built, yet he seldom swings and misses. When he does engage, he frequently makes hard contact, mostly on a line. Behind the dish, he has experience catching pro-level arms, and he has near-elite arm strength. There are scouts who are more reserved about Davis, fearing that his swing is too strength-based to work against superior pitching.