Pirates' Davis Struggles, but Power Potential Looms

0:00On March 31st, Pittsburgh pirates sitting at one win and three losses to kick off the 2026 season, and their catcher, Henry Davis, is right in the middle of the slump. The 26-year-old former first overall pick wins 0 for 3 with three strikeouts in their latest loss to the Cincinnati Reds, dropping his, averaged to a rough point 1-8-2 over four games. The team showing real patience with Davis, mainly because he's the go-to guy behind the plate for ace Paul Schienes. Without that role, he might already be headed back to Triple A, or cut loose altogether. Pirates' brass keeps preaching the long game, just like they did while waiting for him to develop. Fans and analysts see the frustration building as the bats stay quiet early on. Davis fits the team's aggressive style at the plate, swinging early instead of working counts, which has him seeing just 3.62 pitches. Former played appearance in his first 13 trips, below the team average of 3.78. Data shows promise though, with his swing speed landing in the 93rd percentile and average

1:04exit velocity topping 94 mph. When he makes solid contact, that raw power from his college days could turn things around if he starts barreling more balls. Coaches think dialing back the early aggression and letting pitches labor a bit longer might unlock Davis for good. As the pirates push forward, all eyes stay on whether this top pick finds his groove before patience truly runs dry. That wraps MLB News Today, brought to you with AI, I'm Corey with The Story.