Logan Davidson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #15 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Davidson’s blend of all-around performance, power potential and defense made him the 29th overall pick out of Clemson in 2019. Those tools haven’t translated to production so far in pro ball, and he posted a .620 OPS with Double-A Midland in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Even as an amateur, Davidson’s lack of wood bat success raised questions about his pure hitting ability. Those concerns followed him into pro ball. He struck out 30% of the time in 2021, although it’s worth noting he bypassed the Class A levels completely because of the canceled 2020 minor league season. The A’s have worked with the switch-hitting Davidson to shorten his swing and tighten his approach, helping him learn which pitches he can hunt in the strike zone. Davidson still shows above-average power potential and averaged a nearly 90 mph exit velocity in 2021. He is much more impactful from the left side and hit all seven of his home runs lefthanded while posting just a .359 OPS righthanded during the season. Defensively, Davidson has the footwork, actions and instincts to play an average shortstop. He makes most of the routine plays and he has an accurate throwing arm. Most evaluators agree he could handle third base or a multi-positional infield role.
  
  The Future: The A’s are still waiting for Davidson’s bat to come around, but his defensive chops should allow him to reach the big leagues as a versatile infield defender with power off the bench.
  
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #5 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Running: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Davidson displayed big tools but struggled to consistently hit at Clemson. The Athletics drafted him 29th overall in 2019 and sent him to short-season Vermont, where he hit .239/.345/.332 in 54 games to further raise questions about his hitting ability. But Davidson arrived at the alternate training site in 2020 with increased physicality and took some of the biggest strides of anyone.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Davidson has impressive tools with above-average raw power, above-average speed, plus arm strength and excellent throwing accuracy. The question has always been his bat. Davidson has been dogged about his ability to hit with wood dating back to an unimpressive Cape Cod League stint, and there is length in his swing that leads to swings and misses. Davidson displays solid pitch recognition, however, and the A’s were impressed with his approach at the alternate site, generating hopes he can be a fringe-average hitter and access enough of his power to play every day. A taller shortstop, Davidson worked to clean up his actions and has the athleticism to stick at the position. He also played second base and third base at the alternate site.
  
  THE FUTURE: The A’s was encouraged by Davidson’s gains in a disjointed 2020, particularly hitting from the left side. He is set to make his full-season debut in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #9 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Phillies drafted Davidson in the 30th round out of high school but he chose to follow his father Mark's footsteps and play baseball at Clemson. Davidson grew into a power hitter with 42 home runs and 142 RBIs over three collegiate seasons. The A's made him the 29th overall pick in 2019 and signed him for $2,424,600.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Davidson never hit .300 in college and hit just .239 at short-season Vermont after signing, continuing longstanding concerns about his overall hitting ability. Opinions vary on Davidson's consistency at the plate. His supporters praise his natural feel for squaring up pitches, while detractors point to a long swing that results in too many swings and misses. He flashes above-average power when he connects. While the 6-foot-3 Davidson registers tall for a shortstop, he has the quick hands and natural athleticism to project to stick at the position. His plus arm strength allows him to profile at both shortstop or third base if he has to move. Davidson has bloodlines and a good role model in his corner. His father played six years in the majors with the Astros and Twins.
  
  THE FUTURE: Davidson has work to do at the plate. His opening 2020 assignment will largely depend on how he looks in spring training.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #19 prospect in 2019 draft
  A defensively gifted shortstop with physical projection and potential as a switch-hitter, Davidson ranked No. 131 on BA's Top 500 Draft Prospects list in 2016. Since then, the son of six-year big leaguer Mark Davidson has continued to fill out physically and has built a dichotomous track record during his time in college. While playing for Clemson in the ACC, Davidson has looked like a legitimate first-round pick, having hit double-digit home runs and stolen at least 10 bases in each of his three seasons. Defensively, Davidson has a chance to stick at shortstop with plus arm strength and enough athleticism in his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame. Yet, while Davidson has posted impressive power and speed numbers, his hit tool has always been a question mark. He's never hit above .300 at Clemson, and his numbers with a wood bat in the Cape Cod League were poor. In two summers in the Cape, Davidson had an adjusted OPS+ of 58 (where 100 is average), which would be the third-lowest OPS+ for a player with at least 100 at-bats in the Cape Cod League the summer before his draft year since 2000. Current Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford is one of the few major league success stories to occur after struggling mightily in the Cape, and there are some similarities to be drawn with Davidson, though Crawford was seen as a much better defender at the time, while Davidson is a switch-hitter with more raw power. There is some length to Davidson's swing, which leads to high strikeout rates. He's whiffed between 18 and 22 percent of the time during each of his three seasons at Clemson and around 25 percent in the Cape Cod League, but his above-average speed and power allow him to provide offensive value despite a questionable hit tool. In the end, Davidson's eventual landing spot will depend on how a team weighs his successful Clemson career with his Cape Cod track record. With a fair chance to remain at shortstop and a solid, all-around toolset, Davidson profiles as a safe first-round pick.
• Ranked #131 prospect in 2016 draft
  Davidson is the son of six-year big league outfielder Mark Davidson, an 11th-round draftee by the Twins in 1982 and part of Minnesota's World Series-winning team in 1987. When Davidson first committed to Clemson, he was a skinny 6-foot-3, 155-pound shortstop with plenty of room for projection. However, this spring, he weighed in closer to 190 pounds, and with the increase in strength has come vastly increased pro interest. Davidson is a slick fielder and a pure shortstop with more than enough arm strength, throwing 87-89 mph off the mound for Providence High. Most scouts say he can stick at the position, assuming he doesn't outgrow it down the line. A switch-hitter, Davidson has a simple swing but isn't as polished with the bat as he is defensively. With his major league bloodlines and significant physical development this spring, Davidson has received some early round interest, particularly from the Diamondbacks and Reds.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Davidson&#39s blend of all-around performance, power potential and defense made him the 29th overall pick out of Clemson in 2019. Those tools haven&#39t translated to production so far in pro ball, and he posted a .620 OPS with Double-A Midland in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Even as an amateur, Davidson&#39s lack of wood bat success raised questions about his pure hitting ability. Those concerns followed him into pro ball. He struck out 30% of the time in 2021, although it&#39s worth noting he bypassed the Class A levels completely because of the canceled 2020 minor league season. The A&#39s have worked with the switch-hitting Davidson to shorten his swing and tighten his approach, helping him learn which pitches he can hunt in the strike zone. Davidson still shows above-average power potential and averaged a nearly 90 mph exit velocity in 2021. He is much more impactful from the left side and hit all seven of his home runs lefthanded while posting just a .359 OPS righthanded during the season. Defensively, Davidson has the footwork, actions and instincts to play an average shortstop. He makes most of the routine plays and he has an accurate throwing arm. Most evaluators agree he could handle third base or a multi-positional infield role.
  
  The Future: The A&#39s are still waiting for Davidson&#39s bat to come around, but his defensive chops should allow him to reach the big leagues as a versatile infield defender with power off the bench.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Davidson’s blend of all-around performance, power potential and defense made him the 29th overall pick out of Clemson in 2019. Those tools haven’t translated to production so far in pro ball, and he posted a .620 OPS with Double-A Midland in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Even as an amateur, Davidson’s lack of wood bat success raised questions about his pure hitting ability. Those concerns followed him into pro ball. He struck out 30% of the time in 2021, although it’s worth noting he bypassed the Class A levels completely because of the canceled 2020 minor league season. The A’s have worked with the switch-hitting Davidson to shorten his swing and tighten his approach, helping him learn which pitches he can hunt in the strike zone. Davidson still shows above-average power potential and averaged a nearly 90 mph exit velocity in 2021. He is much more impactful from the left side and hit all seven of his home runs lefthanded while posting just a .359 OPS righthanded during the season. Defensively, Davidson has the footwork, actions and instincts to play an average shortstop. He makes most of the routine plays and he has an accurate throwing arm. Most evaluators agree he could handle third base or a multi-positional infield role.
  
  The Future: The A’s are still waiting for Davidson’s bat to come around, but his defensive chops should allow him to reach the big leagues as a versatile infield defender with power off the bench.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Running: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Davidson displayed big tools but struggled to consistently hit at Clemson. The Athletics drafted him 29th overall in 2019 and sent him to short-season Vermont, where he hit .239/.345/.332 in 54 games to further raise questions about his hitting ability. But Davidson arrived at the alternate training site in 2020 with increased physicality and took some of the biggest strides of anyone.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Davidson has impressive tools with above-average raw power, above-average speed, plus arm strength and excellent throwing accuracy. The question has always been his bat. Davidson has been dogged about his ability to hit with wood dating back to an unimpressive Cape Cod League stint, and there is length in his swing that leads to swings and misses. Davidson displays solid pitch recognition, however, and the A's were impressed with his approach at the alternate site, generating hopes he can be a fringe-average hitter and access enough of his power to play every day. A taller shortstop, Davidson worked to clean up his actions and has the athleticism to stick at the position. He also played second base and third base at the alternate site.
  
  THE FUTURE: The A's was encouraged by Davidson's gains in a disjointed 2020, particularly hitting from the left side. He is set to make his full-season debut in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Running: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Davidson displayed big tools but struggled to consistently hit at Clemson. The Athletics drafted him 29th overall in 2019 and sent him to short-season Vermont, where he hit .239/.345/.332 in 54 games to further raise questions about his hitting ability. But Davidson arrived at the alternate training site in 2020 with increased physicality and took some of the biggest strides of anyone.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Davidson has impressive tools with above-average raw power, above-average speed, plus arm strength and excellent throwing accuracy. The question has always been his bat. Davidson has been dogged about his ability to hit with wood dating back to an unimpressive Cape Cod League stint, and there is length in his swing that leads to swings and misses. Davidson displays solid pitch recognition, however, and the A’s were impressed with his approach at the alternate site, generating hopes he can be a fringe-average hitter and access enough of his power to play every day. A taller shortstop, Davidson worked to clean up his actions and has the athleticism to stick at the position. He also played second base and third base at the alternate site.
  
  THE FUTURE: The A’s was encouraged by Davidson’s gains in a disjointed 2020, particularly hitting from the left side. He is set to make his full-season debut in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Running: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Davidson displayed big tools but struggled to consistently hit at Clemson. The Athletics drafted him 29th overall in 2019 and sent him to short-season Vermont, where he hit .239/.345/.332 in 54 games to further raise questions about his hitting ability. But Davidson arrived at the alternate training site in 2020 with increased physicality and took some of the biggest strides of anyone.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Davidson has impressive tools with above-average raw power, above-average speed, plus arm strength and excellent throwing accuracy. The question has always been his bat. Davidson has been dogged about his ability to hit with wood dating back to an unimpressive Cape Cod League stint, and there is length in his swing that leads to swings and misses. Davidson displays solid pitch recognition, however, and the A’s were impressed with his approach at the alternate site, generating hopes he can be a fringe-average hitter and access enough of his power to play every day. A taller shortstop, Davidson worked to clean up his actions and has the athleticism to stick at the position. He also played second base and third base at the alternate site.
  
  THE FUTURE: The A’s was encouraged by Davidson’s gains in a disjointed 2020, particularly hitting from the left side. He is set to make his full-season debut in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Phillies drafted Davidson in the 30th round out of high school but he chose to follow his father Mark’s footsteps and play baseball at Clemson. Davidson grew into a power hitter with 42 home runs and 142 RBIs over three collegiate seasons. The A’s made him the 29th overall pick in 2019 and signed him for $2,424,600.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Davidson never hit .300 in college and hit just .239 at short-season Vermont after signing, continuing longstanding concerns about his overall hitting ability. Opinions vary on Davidson’s consistency at the plate. His supporters praise his natural feel for squaring up pitches, while detractors point to a long swing that results in too many swings and misses. He flashes above-average power when he connects. While the 6-foot-3 Davidson registers tall for a shortstop, he has the quick hands and natural athleticism to project to stick at the position. His plus arm strength allows him to profile at both shortstop or third base if he has to move. Davidson has bloodlines and a good role model in his corner. His father played six years in the majors with the Astros and Twins.
  
  THE FUTURE: Davidson has work to do at the plate. His opening 2020 assignment will largely depend on how he looks in spring training.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Phillies drafted Davidson in the 30th round out of high school but he chose to follow his father Mark's footsteps and play baseball at Clemson. Davidson grew into a power hitter with 42 home runs and 142 RBIs over three collegiate seasons. The A's made him the 29th overall pick in 2019 and signed him for $2,424,600.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Davidson never hit .300 in college and hit just .239 at short-season Vermont after signing, continuing longstanding concerns about his overall hitting ability. Opinions vary on Davidson's consistency at the plate. His supporters praise his natural feel for squaring up pitches, while detractors point to a long swing that results in too many swings and misses. He flashes above-average power when he connects. While the 6-foot-3 Davidson registers tall for a shortstop, he has the quick hands and natural athleticism to project to stick at the position. His plus arm strength allows him to profile at both shortstop or third base if he has to move. Davidson has bloodlines and a good role model in his corner. His father played six years in the majors with the Astros and Twins.
  
  THE FUTURE: Davidson has work to do at the plate. His opening 2020 assignment will largely depend on how he looks in spring training.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  A defensively gifted shortstop with physical projection and potential as a switch-hitter, Davidson ranked No. 131 on BA's Top 500 Draft Prospects list in 2016. Since then, the son of six-year big leaguer Mark Davidson has continued to fill out physically and has built a dichotomous track record during his time in college. While playing for Clemson in the ACC, Davidson has looked like a legitimate first-round pick, having hit double-digit home runs and stolen at least 10 bases in each of his three seasons. Defensively, Davidson has a chance to stick at shortstop with plus arm strength and enough athleticism in his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame. Yet, while Davidson has posted impressive power and speed numbers, his hit tool has always been a question mark. He's never hit above .300 at Clemson, and his numbers with a wood bat in the Cape Cod League were poor. In two summers in the Cape, Davidson had an adjusted OPS+ of 58 (where 100 is average), which would be the third-lowest OPS+ for a player with at least 100 at-bats in the Cape Cod League the summer before his draft year since 2000. Current Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford is one of the few major league success stories to occur after struggling mightily in the Cape, and there are some similarities to be drawn with Davidson, though Crawford was seen as a much better defender at the time, while Davidson is a switch-hitter with more raw power. There is some length to Davidson's swing, which leads to high strikeout rates. He's whiffed between 18 and 22 percent of the time during each of his three seasons at Clemson and around 25 percent in the Cape Cod League, but his above-average speed and power allow him to provide offensive value despite a questionable hit tool. In the end, Davidson's eventual landing spot will depend on how a team weighs his successful Clemson career with his Cape Cod track record. With a fair chance to remain at shortstop and a solid, all-around toolset, Davidson profiles as a safe first-round pick.