Chris Davis Stats & Scouting Report

AB	4978
AVG	.233
OBP	.315
SLG	.459
HR	295

Full name Christopher Lyn Davis
Born 03/17/1986 in Longview, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 255 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Navarro JC
Debut 06/26/2008
Drafted in the 5th round (148th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2006 (signed for $172,500).

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Davis transferred from Texas to Navarro Junior College before his freshman season and was taken by the Angels in the 35th round of the 2005 draft. He ranked among the national juco leaders with 17 homers this spring, and his kind of lefthanded power is always in demand. Bulldogs coach Skip Johnson compares him to another former Navarro star, Brad Hawpe. Davis also has a 90-92 mph fastball and a decent breaking ball on the mound, though his back bothered him and limited him as a pitcher. If he doesn't turn pro this summer, he'll attend Arkansas.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

A two-way star in high school who also pitched some after transferring from Texas to Navarro (Texas) JC, Davis has taken off as a power hitter in pro ball. He followed up his solid 2006 debut with a monstrous first full season, finishing second in the minors with 36 homers and 118 RBIs and setting a California League record with a 35-game hitting streak. Not only does Davis possess well above-average power, but he knows how to use it, thanks to a balanced approach and willingness to use the whole field. He has improved against lefthanders, shortened up his swing somewhat and showed an ability to make adjustments against more advanced pitching as he has moved through the minors. Despite a plus arm, Davis is a below-average defender at third base, with poor footwork and actions. He played right field in his pro debut but is a below-average runner who likely will be limited to first base down the road. Though he has a good feel for hitting, he swings and misses a lot. He tends to start his hands high then drop them down before the pitch, making him vulnerable against pitches above the belt. Davis could be an impact middle-of-the-lineup bat in the big leagues even if he is limited to first base. He needs another season in the minors to see more quality pitching, and he figures to split 2008 between Double-A and Triple-A Oklahoma.
A two-way star in high school, Davis began his college career at Texas but transferred to Navarro (Texas) JC before his freshman season began. He still pitched last spring, hitting 90- 92 mph, but back problems limited his time on the mound. He hit 17 homers and Navarro coach Skip Johnson compared him to another of his former standouts, Brad Hawpe. Drafted in the fifth round--30 rounds earlier than the Angels selected him in 2005-Davis signed for $172,500 and earned Northwest League all-star honors in his debut. Davis' best tool is his above-average power from the left side. A streaky hitter, he's downright scary when he's locked in, as evidenced by two games against Vancouver when he hit four consecutive home runs and just missed a fifth, backing the right fielder up against the wall. Davis could be exploited on the outer half when he was mostly a pull hitter early in the summer, but he adjusted as the year progressed and began hitting with some authority to the opposite field. His swing has some length to it, but he has impressive bat speed and leverage. He'll have to tighten his strike zone at higher levels. Davis played mostly outfield but is more comfortable at first base, where he's an adequate defender with a strong arm. He's a below-average runner. Davis should start 2007 in low Class A and has enough power to profile as an everyday first baseman.

Minor League Top Prospects

Davis terrorized the TL for 30 games at the end of 2007 and 46 at the start of this season, slugging 25 homers. He earned a promotion to Triple-A in late May and to Texas a month later, homering in his first two big league starts and never looking back. He has huge power to all fields and has shown the ability to hit for average despite a propensity for striking out. A third baseman in his first stint with Frisco, Davis moved to first base this year after his footwork and actions were found lacking at the hot corner. He looked much better at his new position, and he fits the offensive profile there as well. He has plus arm strength and below-averge speed.
Davis bounced back from a slow start in historic fashion. He batted just .262 in the first two months as he struggled with offspeed pitches. Then he regained his timing by planting his front foot and keeping his weight back, and he went on a tear, matching a league record by hitting in 35 consecutive games. Despite that streak, Davis hits for power more than he does so for average. He can get pull-conscious and impatient, but when he connects, he crushes the ball. "He can swing and miss in three at-bats, then hit a home run in the ninth," said Bakersfield manager Carlos Subero, who praised Davis' ability to make in-game adjustments. A former pitcher, Davis had the strongest infield arm in the league. After playing the outfield and first base in his pro debut, he showed improvement with his glovework and range at third base. While his athleticism and speed don't stand out, he can be at least adequate at the hot corner.
A two-way star in high school, Davis slugged 17 home runs for Navarro (Texas) Junior College this spring but was limited on the mound because of a sore back. But he still boosted his draft stock significantly, going in the fifth round a year after the Angels took him in the 35th. Davis' best tool is his above-average power from the left side. A streaky hitter, he's downright scary when he's locked in. He hit four consecutive homers against Vancouver and just missed a fifth, backing the right fielder up against the wall. "That was the most impressive display of power that I have personally seen by any one player," Magnante said. "He's got serious power. And it's not a bad swing. For the most part he was taking fastballs out against us, then he started taking changeups out, then breaking balls out. Everything we threw him, he hit." Mostly a pull hitter early in the season, Davis could be exploited on the outer half but began hitting with some authority to the opposite field as the year progressed. His swing has some length to it, but he has impressive bat speed and leverage. Davis played some outfield but is more comfortable at first base, where he's an adequate defender with a strong arm.