Lars Davis Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Lars Orion Davis
Born 11/07/1985 in Grande Prairie, AB, Canada
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Illinois
Drafted in the 3rd round (102nd overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2007 (signed for $337,000).

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For the second time in three years, Illinois has a Canadian catcher who will go early in the draft. The Tigers made Chris Robinson a third-round pick in 2005, and Lars Davis could go nearly as high two years later. He who won Big 10 Conference player of the year honors after leading the league with 13 homers and ranking second with a .400 average. He bats lefthanded, stands 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds and is a better athlete than most catchers. He was a standout volleyball player in high school. Davis has been catching for only 2 1/2 years, as he was a part-time backstop as a freshman at Lethbridge (Alberta) Community College. His defensive skills are adequate, and he has drawn comparisons to Mike Jacobs, an offensive-minded catcher who eventually became a full-time first baseman.

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An all-province volleyballer as a high schooler in Grand Prairie, Alberta, Davis is very athletic for a catcher. He became a part-time backstop at Lethbridge (Alberta) CC in 2005 and didn't move behind the plate full-time until he transferred to Illinois. The Big 10 Conference player of the year last spring, he hit .400 with 13 homers before going in the third round of the draft and signing for $337,000. He struggled learning to use wood bats in his pro debut and must tighten up his swing to stay back on offspeed pitches. He still projects as an offensive catcher with some pop, and as a bonus, he bats lefthanded. His speed is below average but good for a catcher. Defensively, Davis has solid arm strength which will improve as he smooths out his throwing mechanics. He threw out 30 percent of basestealers in his debut. His receiving skills are adequate, but with his work ethic--he was a microcellular biology major at Illinois--they should get better. Davis will spend his first full season in low Class A.