Let the Pitcher Work<\/p>\n
The Pirates have a habit of being aggressive early in their at-bats, and Davis<\/a> is one of the biggest culprits. The idea behind it makes sense. If you can take advantage of a pitcher\u2019s mistake early, you might maximize the at-bat compared to waiting them out. <\/p>\n However, Davis<\/a> is not letting the pitcher work in favor of swinging away. According to data from ESPN, he\u2019s been particularly quick to the ball this season. In 13 plate appearances, he\u2019s faced a total of 47 pitches, earning an average of 3.62 pitches per plate appearance. That figure ranks seventh on the Pirates and falls below the team average of 3.78 pitches per appearance. <\/p>\n Instead of making the pitcher work, Davis <\/a>is making life easier for them. He takes cuts at pitches he shouldn\u2019t, and it costs him. It\u2019s why he\u2019s posting a measly .182 through his first four games. <\/p>\n Sep 27, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis (32) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images<\/p>\n When He Connects, It\u2019s Something Special<\/p>\n The Pirates are holding on to hope that the pop he showed at the collegiate level and at various times during his professional career reaches a consistent point at the MLB level. <\/p>\n It\u2019s a light in the dark at this point, but there\u2019s a few key statistics that suggest he could find his way. One is his swing speed. Through his first 13 plate appearances, he\u2019s swinging a wildly fast bet when he connects with the ball. According to data compiled from Baseball Savant<\/a>, Davis is in the 93rd percentile of all batters at the sweet spot of his swing. That’s resulting in a high average exit velocity over 94 miles per hour. <\/p>\n In laymen\u2019s terms, when Davis puts the barrel to the ball, he absolutely smashes it. <\/p>\n The goal, now, is to get that swing connecting. Maybe the key is to wait for his pitch, rather than trying to go after the pitcher from the first moments of the at-bat. A little patience could go a long way at the plate, even as the Pirates run out of patience with Davis on the roster. <\/p>\n![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/01kn276nq77rmp701mk0.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
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