Matt Davidson
| AB | 1003 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .22 |
| OBP | .29 |
| SLG | .43 |
| HR | 54 |
- Full name Matthew Glen Davidson
- Born 03/26/1991 in Yucaipa, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Yucaipa
- Debut 08/11/2013
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Drafted in the C-A round (35th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009 (signed for $900,000).
View Draft Report
Davidson won the home run derby during the Aflac Classic at Dodger Stadium last summer, and only a late rally by the East squad prevented him from being the game's MVP. Athletic and powerfully built at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Davidson has always flashed impressive raw power. As a junior in the spring of 2008, he put on an eye-opening power display during the National Classic home run contest. Actual games, of course, are not home run derbies, and like many young power hitters, Davidson struggles with consistency and had trouble catching up to quality pitching at some showcase events. When hitting well, he waits out the pitch and then uses a short backswing and sweeping follow-through to wallop the ball. When slumping, he struggles to read the pitch, flinches his front side and commits too early or too late. Davidson's speed is well-below-average, but he does have an above-average arm. His hands and footwork will probably force him to first base down the road. Davidson may never produce in games to match the grades scouts put on his raw power, but the lure of that potential should put him as high as the supplemental first round if he's considered signable away from Southern California.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The White Sox traded young closer Addison Reed to the Diamondbacks following the 2013 season because they believed in Davidson's upside. Then 22 years old, Davidson was coming off a season in which he won MVP honors at the Futures Game, smacked 17 home runs at Triple-A Reno and earned a September callup. Since then he has scuffled through two straight seasons at Triple-A Charlotte and received September callups neither time. Davidson has plus raw power to his pull side and led the International League with 23 homers in 2015--though 18 were hit at Charlotte's band box-- and he has hit .201 with a 31 percent strikeout rate as a White Sox farmhand. Davidson's glove work has improved as his bat has regressed, and he has the requisite quickness and arm strength to play the position. -
Davidson had one of the worst years in the White Sox organization in 2014, mixing bad timing with an inability to get out of a slump. Acquired after the 2013 season from the Diamondbacks for Addison Reed, Davidson entered the season with hopes of competing for the third-base job in Chicago. When Conor Gillaspie beat him out, Davidson went to Triple-A Charlotte, pressed and expanded his strike zone, piling up strikeouts and bad at-bats. Davidson never really got out of his funk, with family issues complicating his struggles. When he's right, Davidson remains strong and quick to the ball, with plus power particularly to his pull side but with authority to the opposite field as well. He defended better than the White Sox expected, with average range and arm strength and enough first-step quickness for the job. The organization intends to give Davidson a mulligan, and his power gives him a better profile than Gillaspie, who is a better hitter. They'll compete again in spring training, but now Gillaspie is the incumbent. -
Drafted five picks before Chris Owings in 2009, Davidson went 35th overall and signed for $900,000. He averaged nearly 20 home runs a year in his four full seasons in the organization and reached 20 last year with his first three big league homers. Davidson has big raw power and the ball jumps off his bat. He's got a bit of a long swing and struggles to make consistent contact, which will keep his average low, but he's selective enough to get to his power consistently. His walk rate dropped in his first Triple-A season, though he handled big league pitchers well after being promoted for two stints in Arizona. While he still needs to improve defensively, scouts project him to be an average defender in time, and he makes the routine play consistently. Davidson needs to improve his lateral movement, quickness and conditioning. He has well below-average speed. The Diamondbacks need another power bat to pair with Paul Goldschmidt, a role Davidson could fill if he can handle third base. He'll go to spring training with a good chance of earning a spot on the Opening Day roster. -
The 35th overall pick in the 2009 draft, Davidson signed for $900,000. After sharing third base with 2009 first-rounder Bobby Borchering in their first two full pro seasons, Davidson had the hot corner to himself at Double-A Mobile last year. He improved his defense and slammed a career-high 23 homers. Davidson brings a professional approach and plenty of power to the plate. When he doesn't try to do too much, he can drive the ball to all fields. While he continued to improve his plate discipline in 2012, he'll always accumulate strikeouts and probably won't hit for a high average. The chance to play regularly at third base helped Davidson enhance his range and actions. His 28 errors led SL third basemen by a wide margin, so he needs more consistency, but he has the soft hands and average arm to play there. Better positioning would help him. He's a below-average runner. Arizona needs a starting third baseman and more power bats in its lineup. Davidson still needs some time in Triple-A but should make his major league debut at some point in 2013. He'll push incumbent Chris Johnson aside when he's ready. -
For the second straight season, Davidson had to share third base with fellow 2009 premium pick Bobby Borchering. The recipient of a $900,000 bonus, Davidson struggled in high Class A at the end of 2010 but drove in 106 runs and improved his defense when he returned to Visalia in 2011. He moved up to Double-A for the Southern League championship series and homered in the clincher. Davidson has strong, quick hands that give him power to all fields. He's a very consistent hitter with a good approach at the plate, so his strikeout totals should come down as he matures. He handles secondary pitches well but can get beat by good fastballs on the inner half. While Davidson never will be known for his defense, he should be able to handle third base. He doesn't have much range and needs to improve his consistency, but he has soft hands and a strong arm. He's a below-average runner. The system's top position prospect, Davidson will head back to Mobile in 2012 and should reach the majors the following season. He won't have to spend any more time at first base or DH now that Borchering is moving to the outfield. He projects as a No. 4 or 5 hitter in a big league lineup. -
The first of three Diamondbacks supplemental first-round picks in 2009, Davidson signed for $900,000. Arizona has pushed him aggressively, sending him to short-season Yakima for his pro debut and promoting him to high Class A at age 19 last August. He looked overmatched at those stops, but in between he earned all-star honors playing against competition closer to his age in the low Class A Midwest League. One Diamondbacks scout proclaimed Davidson as the "crown jewel of the system," and MWL observers clearly preferred him to fellow South Bend third baseman Bobby Borchering, a 2009 first-rounder. Thanks to his quick hands, Davidson has above-average power to all fields. He's not afraid to let balls travel deep and should hit for a solid average as well. With below-average speed and fringy range, he won't be more than adequate at third base, but he's better than Borchering defensively. Arizona thinks Davidson can stay at the hot corner. With his strong arm, he could move to an outfield corner if necessary. A potential cleanup hitter in the majors, Davidson will return to Visalia, where he'll once again team up with many of the system's top prospects. The downside is that he'll have to share third base with Borchering again rather than getting daily reps at the hot corner. -
Davidson has been on scouts' radar screens since he started shining on the high school showcase circuit after his freshman year. He won the home run derby at the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic in the summer of 2008, and another at the National Classic tournament last spring. One of the best high school power hitters available in the draft, he went 35th overall and signed for $900,000. Because Arizona doesn't have a complex-based affiliate and first-round pick Bobby Borchering was assigned to Missoula, Davidson was sent to short-season Yakima. It was a tough assignment, as he hit .241/.312/.319 as the youngest regular in the Northwest League. He has plus-plus raw power, which he generates more with strength and leverage than bat speed. His swing mechanics, which feature a short backswing and a long follow-through, need refinement. He's a well below-average runner. Though Davidson has made significant defensive improvements since turning pro, some scouts whether he can stay at third base in the long run. His range, hands and footwork are questionable, but he does have the arm strength for the hot corner. He led NWL third basemen with a .934 fielding percentage. Davidson's potential to be a middle-of-the-order thumper has garnered him comparisons to Paul Konerko and Matt Williams. He'll open 2010 in low Class A South Bend, alternating with Borchering at third base and DH.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Davidson is considered a prime power prospect who has hit at least 17 home runs in each of his four minor league seasons. He has enough power to drive the ball out to any part of the ballpark. His lowest total came this year in the PCL, as he struck out in nearly 27 percent of plate appearances. He?s still working on making consistent contact and handling quality breaking stuff. In the past he has shown a strong walk rate to counterbalance his high strikeout rate, but he was unable to sustain that at Triple-A. A big, strong hitter with a long swing, Davidson struggled with lefthanded pitchers this season with a .223/.333/.301 batting line. When Davidson does make contact, the ball jumps off his bat. League managers considered him a consistent, solid defender at third base, which enhances his value. Arizona called him up in August and again as a September callup. -
Forced out for three weeks of the fall season with concussion symptoms after taking a ground ball off the top of his head, the 21-year-old Davidson impressed scouts that saw him with his two-way offensive potential. The 2009 supplemental first-round pick has excellent power potential, displaying a smooth swing with good bat speed and strength. The swing and miss continues to be a concern, as he struck out in 18 of his 40 at bats, but he shows decent pitch recognition and zone knowledge, prompting scouts to believe it will improve. He projects to be a slightly below-average defender at third base, where his bat should allow him to stick as an everyday regular. -
For the first time in his pro career, Davidson was able to truly call third base his home. After sharing the position with 2009 first-rounder Bobby Borchering in his first three pro seasons, Davidson played a career-high 127 games at third base in 2012 and continued to show the power that has become his calling card. Davidson has pop to all fields and ranked fourth in the SL with 23 homers. He has trimmed his strikeout rate while maintaining his power, though swings and misses always will be part of his game and will keep him from hitting for a high average. The extra reps helped Davidson improve defensively, though he did make 28 errors--11 more than any other third baseman in the league. He has well below-average speed but decent range, though he needs to learn to position himself better. His hands and arm strength are average. -
Two of the top 35 picks in the 2009 draft, Davidson and Bobby Borchering shared third base at low Class A South Bend in 2010 and again at Visalia this year. Though he was drafted 19 picks behind Borchering, Davidson has established himself as the better hitter and defender over the last two seasons. Davidson has strong, quick hands and hits for above-average power to all fields. He shows a mature approach by not looking to pull everything and driving pitches to the opposite field. He doesn't chase many pitches out of the strike zone but tends to be a little late against good fastballs. While he doesn't have a ton of range at third base, Davidson has soft hands, good feet and a strong, accurate arm. A well below-average runner, he's still looking for his first stolen base as a pro. -
The Diamondbacks selected Bobby Borchering and Davidson in the top 35 picks of the 2009 draft, then sent them both to South Bend for their first full season. They shared third-base and DH duties until Davidson moved to high Class A in mid-August. While Borchering went 19 picks higher and has more raw power, managers and scouts clearly preferred Davidson. "He's as good a young hitter as I've seen in that league in a long time," a second AL scout said. More polished at the plate than Borchering, Davidson has quick hands and isn't afraid to let balls get deep before he turns his bat loose and unleashes power to all fields. He also has a better chance to stick at third base, though Davidson is more playable than solid there and may wind up in left field. He has well below-average speed and substandard range, and a lack of throwing accuracy detracts from his solid arm strength. -
One of the best high school power bats in the 2009 draft, Davidson went 35th overall to the Diamondbacks. His batting line of .241/.312/.319 doesn't elicit a lot of excitement, but he was the youngest regular in the league at age 18 and received a steady diet of breaking balls. Davidson has a good frame with some strength and nice leverage in his swing. That's where his power comes from, because he doesn't have an exceptionally fast bat or quick-twitch actions at the plate. Trebelhorn said Davidson reminds him of a young Matt Williams. Vancouver manager Rick Magnante, who also scouts southern California for the Athletics and had Davidson in his are, said he was surprised at how much Davidson's defense had improved since the spring. While his range and first-step quickness are still a concern, he became much more aggressive to the ball and improved his hands, footwork and arm strength. He also led NWL third baseman with a .934 fielding percentage.
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Power Hitter in the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2014
- Rated Best Power Hitter in the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013
- Rated Best Power Prospect in the Southern League in 2012
Scouting Reports
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Background: A high school teammate of Mariners prospect Taijuan Walker, Davidson was the 35th overall pick in the 2009 draft and signed for $900,000, but didn't debut until the following year. After sharing third base with 2009 first-rounder Bobby Borchering in their first two full pro seasons, Davidson had the hot corner to himself at Double-A Mobile last year. He improved his defense and slammed a career-high 23 homers. Scouting Report: Davidson brings a professional approach and plenty of power to the plate. When he doesn't try to do too much, he can drive the ball to all fields. While he continued to improve his plate discipline in 2012, he'll always accumulate strikeouts and probably won't hit for a high average. The opportunity to play regularly at third base helped Davidson enhance his range and actions. His 28 errors led SL third basemen by a wide margin, so he needs more consistency, but he has the soft hands and average arm to play there. Better positioning would help him. He's a below-average runner. The Future: Arizona needs a starting third baseman and more power bats in its lineup. Davidson still needs some time in Triple-A but should make his major league debut at some point in 2013. He'll push incumbent Chris Johnson aside when he's ready. -
Forced out for three weeks of the fall season with concussion symptoms after taking a ground ball off the top of his head, the 21-year-old Davidson impressed scouts that saw him with his two-way offensive potential. The 2009 supplemental first-round pick has excellent power potential, displaying a smooth swing with good bat speed and strength. The swing and miss continues to be a concern, as he struck out in 18 of his 40 at bats, but he shows decent pitch recognition and zone knowledge, prompting scouts to believe it will improve. He projects to be a slightly below-average defender at third base, where his bat should allow him to stick as an everyday regular. -
Background: For the second straight season, Davidson had to share third base with fellow 2009 premium pick Bobby Borchering. The recipient of a $900,000 bonus as a sandwich pick, Davidson struggled in high Class A at the end of 2010 but drove in 106 runs and improved his defense when he returned to Visalia in 2011. He moved up to Double-A for the Southern League championship series and homered in the clincher. Scouting Report: Davidson has strong, quick hands that give him power to all fields. He's a very consistent hitter with a good approach at the plate, so his strikeout totals should come down as he matures. He handles secondary pitches well but can get beat by good fastballs on the inner half of the plate. While Davidson never will be known for his defense, he should be able to handle third base. He doesn't have much range and needs to improve his consistency, but he has soft hands and a strong arm. He's a below-average runner. The Future: The system's top position prospect, Davidson will head back to Mobile in 2012 and should reach the majors the following season. He won't have to spend any more time at first base or DH now that Borchering is moving to the outfield. He projects as a No. 4 or 5 hitter in a big league lineup. -
Background: The first of three Diamondbacks supplemental first-round picks in 2009, Davidson signed for $900,000. Arizona has pushed him aggressively, sending him to short-season Yakima for his pro debut and promoting him to high Class A at age 19 last August. He looked overmatched at those stops, but in between he earned all-star honors playing against competition closer to his age in the low Class A Midwest League. Scouting Report: One Diamondbacks scout proclaimed Davidson as the "crown jewel of the system," and MWL observers clearly preferred him to fellow South Bend third baseman Bobby Borchering, a 2009 first-rounder. Thanks to his quick hands, Davidson has above-average power to all fields. He's not afraid to let balls travel deep and should hit for a solid average as well. With below-average speed and fringy range, he won't be more than adequate at third base, but he's better than Borchering defensively and Arizona thinks Davidson can stay at the hot corner. With his strong arm, he could move to an outfield corner if necessary. The Future: A potential cleanup hitter in the majors, Davidson will return to Visalia, where he'll once again team up with many of the system's top prospects. The downside is that he'll have to share third base with Borchering again rather than getting daily reps at the hot corner.
