PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) \u2013 We had all heard about \u2018expected this\u2019 and \u2018expected that\u2019 when it comes to seeing more from 2021 first-round pick Henry Davis. Monday it was a second home run in three games and this one was the game-winner in a 2-1 series opener against the Cubs.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“Hit it, squared it up, pretty pumped,” Davis said.<\/p>\n
Heading into that at bat Davis was flirting with the batting average dipping below .130, but that wasn\u2019t concerning him. It had irritated him, but much like the expected batting average stat was telling, Davis believed it\u2019s turning for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cProcess-wise, it\u2019s definitely been the best month I\u2019ve had in the big leagues,\u201d Davis said after the game. \u201cIt\u2019s super frustrating to not have the results that I thought would line up with those over the course of time. Just trying to stay diligent, work hard and be prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n
And what allowed him to not let that frustration take over?<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, the only thing that I think helps is it\u2019s a new game every day,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI\u2019m trying to help the team win any way that I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
His manager agrees.<\/p>\n
“The thing is, the approach gets him to hit it there,\u201d Don Kelly said of the 413-foot home run to left field. \u201cWe haven’t seen too many yanked, pulled foul balls recently. So his approach is through the middle and he is going to catch some out front and drive it to left with his approach being through the middle.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI think that it’s worked really well for him here recently, trying to stay up the middle, which doesn’t mean that you can’t hit a home run like he did today. He certainly can.”<\/p>\n
Kelly said Davis has power to all fields and they\u2019ve seen it in batting practice, his ability to drive the ball. The second-year manager called it \u2018tremendous\u2019 what he was able to do in the seventh inning on Monday.<\/p>\n
Davis said the goal this year was to \u2018hit the ball harder and strike out less\u2019. It\u2019s been better in May, just had not seen the results. Davis is just two for his last 23, but both of those hits are home runs. <\/p>\n