Blake Davis

BLAKE DAVIS
SHORTSTOP
  Born: December 22, 1983
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 170
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Drafted: 4th Round, 115th Overall, 2006 (Orioles)
How Acquired:
 Minor league free agent
College: California State University Fullerton
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Davis was drafted as a sophomore eligible in 2005 and didn’t sign.  The Orioles took him in the 4th round the next year and signed him.  He’s a good defensive infielder who didn’t hit enough to become a prospect.  Baseball America twice named him the best defensive infielder in the Orioles’ system, but he never made a top 30 prospect list in an organization that didn’t have much depth.  He’s played second, short, third and all the outfield positions, but he’s mostly been a shortstop.  The Pirates signed him as a minor league free agent.

2006
A:  271/329/377, 199 AB, 8 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 15 BB, 28 K, 9-11 SB

The Orioles sent Davis to full-season ball after he signed.  He played short for 50 games and hit respectably.

2007
A+:  291/362/409, 357 AB, 24 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 35 BB, 71 K, 11-24 SB
AA:  209/264/270, 115 AB, 7 2B, 9 BB, 25 K, 1-2 SB

Davis continued to play short regularly as he had a solid season in high A, earning a late promotion to AA.

2008
AA:  284/324/389, 457 AB, 22 2B, 7 3B, 4 HR, 26 BB, 80 K, 8-15 SB

Davis spent the season as the starting shortstop for the Orioles’ AA affiliate.  His offense was just adequate and was hurt by a very low walk rate.

2009
A-:  320/357/420, 50 AB, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 BB, 7 K
AAA:  211/270/272, 180 AB, 4 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 14 BB, 40 K, 3-5 SB 

Davis broke his foot in spring training and missed the first half of the season.  After a rehab assignment, the Orioles sent him to AAA.  Once there, he played short regularly but struggled at the plate.

2010
AA:  190/280/238, 21 AB, 1 2B, 3 BB, 2 K
AAA:  246/294/369, 244 AB, 14 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 17 BB, 43 K, 3-7 SB

Davis seemingly made the transition to organizational player, opening in AA before moving up to AAA.  He played only semi-regularly at the latter stop and split his time between second, third, short and the outfield.

2011
AAA:  280/323/384, 232 AB, 3 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 15 BB, 46 K, 6-11 SB
MLB:  254/323/390, 59 AB, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 BB, 13 K, 1-2 SB 

The Orioles employed Davis as a utility player in AAA, where he spent most of his time in right field.  They called him up in late June, keeping him in the majors for two months.  He saw limited action, most of it at second, as the Orioles were going through their annual struggle to find a replacement for the oft-injured Brian Roberts.  Davis actually hit very respectably in the majors.  Baltimore outrighted Davis to AAA in September.

2012
AAA:  251/299/346, 355 AB, 17 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 25 BB, 61 K, 6-6 SB

Back in AAA, Davis was the primary shortstop.  He mostly struggled at the plate.  He became a free agent after the season and signed with the Brewers.

2013
AAA:  256/297/352, 332 AB, 16 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 19 BB, 71 K, 5-10 SB

Davis was again the primary shortstop for his AAA team.  At the plate he had almost the exact same season as the year before.

2014
AAA:  245/282/318, 233 AB, 10 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 11 BB, 37 K, 3-4 SB

Davis served as a utility player for Indianapolis, seeing action at every infield position, although mostly at second.  He hit about the same as usual, only a little weaker.

Davis will be a free agent again in the fall.

STATS
Baseball Reference–Majors
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MLB.com
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2014: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $282,500
MiLB Debut: 2006
MLB Debut: 6/22/2011
MiLB FA Eligible: Eligible
MLB FA Eligible: 2020
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: 6/22/2011
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.081
TRANSACTIONS
June 6, 2005: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 46th round, 1377th overall.
June 3, 2006: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 4th round, 115th overall; signed on July 7.
June 18, 2011: Contract purchased by the Baltimore Orioles.
September 6, 2011: Designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles; outrighted to AAA on September 8.
November 3, 2012: Became a free agent.
December 13, 2012: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers.
November 5, 2013: Became a free agent.
January 27, 2014: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.