It’s often said, but bears repeating: Not all paths to stardom are the same.
Some top Major League Baseball prospects quickly progress through the minors, but for others, it takes many more seasons than expected. Those who stick it out down on the farm hope to be rewarded, and Brennen Davis is hoping he sees that reward next year.
Davis, 26, was regarded as the No. 15 prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline in 2022. He was in the Chicago Cubs organization at the time, but a rough 2023 season that culminated in back surgery began a tailspin that saw him non-tendered by the Cubs and led to his signing with the New York Yankees last December.
Almost exactly one year later, after another injury-plagued season, Davis is on the move once again. According to a Saturday report from Aram Leighton of Just Baseball, the Seattle Mariners and Davis agreed to a minor-league contract for the new year.
Davis wasn’t able to begin the season on time, as he was recovering from a fractured ankle, and he missed two more months after crashing into an outfield fence in June. But in his 50 games in the Yankees organization, 36 of which came in Triple-A, he crushed 17, home runs, slugged .612, and likely garnered himself interest from a lot of teams besides the Mariners.
Having undergone core surgery in between the back and ankle issues, Davis just hasn’t had enough consistent playing time at Triple-A to prove he belongs in the majors. That could change in Seattle this year if he gets off to a good start and some injuries open up a spot in front of him.
The Yankees had other young outfielders to worry about, in fairness, as longtime top prospects Spencer Jones and Jasson DomÃnguez are expected to compete for major league roles this year. But one has to wonder if Davis will ever make New York regret letting him pass through the organization without giving him a real shot.
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