Khris Davis: when is he considered a legitimate prospect?

[jwill535]

At what point is he considered a legitimate prospect. It seems like he does nothing but hit and hit with power. I know he is a college kid so age may be a concern but it seems like he is always a + in the box scores. I know he projects to an already full corner outfield but you would have to think with his "advanced" age he would be a legitimate candidate for a back up(Kotsay) bench spot at the end of this year or next.

[YoungGeezy]

Whenever the Brewers fell like challenging his bat. He should have be promoted last season and never was and no promises they won't do the same again. Feel bad for him because once again the explaination people will give for his stats is he is "old for the league" which really isn't 100% true. I really hope they quit babying him and get him up by June (assuming this continues). Never a true prospect until you perform at AA

[TheCrew07]

I like Kris, I believe his power is legit and have the since thehomerun he hit over the scoreboard last season, he's pretty much limited to LF or 1B defensively though. As such, that limits him to being fantastic depth as an injury replacement for the Brewers. Unless of course Braun moves to RF or 1B, then he's got a shot to be an everyday player. If Braun ended up at 1B and Gamel could be a good RF, then Davis would make sense in LF. That's alot of "ifs" though, the biggest if being that Kris continues to rake as he moves up the chain. It's too bad the Brewers have so many defensively challenged players, it makes it difficult to find room for all of the bats if they pan out.

[paul253]

I've been following Davis closer this season and I am impressed by his numbers. Hopefully the Brewers don't hold him back in BC all season. With the exception of a few players, they don't really seem to push their prospects very much. Guys like Davis, Peralta, Heckathorn, Thornburg, Wooten, Fiers, Komatsu and Ross should all be moved up by June 1st if they continue to play like they have been. I'd love to see them fast track Schafer too because there's a chance he could be Milwaukee's starting CF in 2012.

[CheezWizHed]

Question: What exactly are the defensive limitations holding Davis to LF? Generally, the only diff from RF and LF is arm strength, which I think has been the main knock on him.

 

Besides arm strength, how does he rate for actual catching FBs, taking the correct route to a ball, effort, etc...?

[dadofandrew]

Arm is incredibly weak, Juan Pierre-like. On a line drive one hopper to LF last year, he came up firing, releasing the ball just as the runner rounded 3B. His throw almost floated in, it one-hopped the cut-off man. He'll have to hit like a machine to make the bigs, but the bat will play. If he continues to hit .400/.500, he'll make it. Odds are, he will not.

[TooLiveBrew]

Here's the excellent Jeff Isom scouting report on Davis from last season:

 

The tool box

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager Jeff Isom breaks down Khris Davis' skills:

 

Hitting

for average: "He's going to hit for average. He has a good idea at the

plate on pitch selection. And when he gets pitches to hit, he puts good

swings on it. He's quick to the ball, so I have a feeling he'll hit for a

high average."

 

Hitting for power: "Right now, he's a gap-to-gap

guy — mostly goes to right-center field. And usually, the last thing

that develops for players is power from the offensive side, so I think

power will be coming with him. But for us, he'll be a doubles and

triples guy, with a handful of home runs. He'll hit more home runs as he

gets older."

 

Running speed: "I haven't seen a whole lot because

we haven't had a lot of opportunities to run. He's an adequate runner —

a major-league average runner. He'll steal some bases."

 

Arm

strength: "That's one area he's working on. We've got to change some

mechanics with him throwing. As of right now, it's below average."

 

Fielding: "Very good. He runs good routes and gets good jumps on balls."

Final

thoughts: "He's a very good kid — usually the first one to the

clubhouse and the last one to leave. He takes pride in getting game

ready. He's off to a good start. He struggled for a day or two and then

made some minor changes with his swing. And since then, he has been

hitting the ball very well. He's one of those guys with the ability to

drive in runs, but he also has a good eye at the plate and will be a guy

who can get on base."

[And That]

He would likely be an above average first baseman defensively, probably better than Gamel. But even moreso than LF, you have to wonder if he would hit enough.

[TooLiveBrew]

I'm surprised you think he'd be better than Gamel with the glove. Mat's problem has never been his fielding, it's his throwing. Not sure how easy it would be to transition to 1B after playing LF-only for a couple seasons.

[And That]

After watching Gamel play 1B for a few games in Nashville, I wasn't impressed. The best way I can put it is that he looked nonchalant on defense. Maybe he was trying, but he could be a lot better than plays there.

[paul253]

I thought I remember Gamel talking about position changes last season and him saying that he basically didn't want to move off of third base but if he had to he'd rather play outfield than first base. I'd be fine with Gamel in right field because I think Corey Hart would be ok going back to first. I wonder if Gamel's heart is really into the change.

[TheCrew07]

Not to take this thread any further off topic, but Gamel isn't in a position where he can be choosy at all. If his heart isn't in it then he need a change of heart or as much as it pains me to say it, a change in organization. He's ultimately responsible for making the most of his tools, and he hasn't come close defensively. Part of that blame lies with the organization, but he needs to be realistic about where he stands and make the best of the situation.

[CheezWizHed]

Arm strength: "That's one area he's working on. We've got to change some mechanics with him throwing. As of right now, it's below average."

 

Fielding: "Very good. He runs good routes and gets good jumps on balls."

 

Given that scouting report by Isom, I'm content to leave him in LF. Hopefully he can build his arm strength up. Am I remembering wrong that there was some past surgery (from his HS days or something) that is part of his arm strength problem?