Prospect Spotlight: Joe Davis

Many amateur players discover early on that professional baseball is a bigger jump than they expected from college or high school ball. Some never overcome the differences, but Joe Davis is one who is meeting the challenge and making his mark. A 2019, 19th round draft pick by the Boston Red Sox out of the University of Houston had a solid first pro season, and looks to build on that in 2021.

2023 update: Davis retired in December 2022 after two minor league seasons. He reached High A with Greenville in 2022.

The first baseman from Austin, Texas was first drafted in 2015 by the Tampa Bay Rays, out of Bowie High School in Austin, but he decided that college ball was his best option. Heading southeast, Davis became an immediate starter for the U of H Cougars, and held that position for four years, setting multiple school records. In 235 games, Davis slashed .311/.387/.544, with 139 runs, 53 home runs, 223 RBI, 95 walks, and only 129 strikeouts - stellar numbers for the man who helped the Cougars to two Conference Championships (2017-18.)

Davis’ first pro stop was the Lowell Spinners, New York-Penn League, Short Season A. In 40 games, 146 ABs, he hit .281 with 5 home runs, 28 RBI, and only 25 strikeouts - a solid first pro season. In the field, in 27 games at first base, Davis made only 2 errors.  

For 2021, Davis will likely start the season with the Salem Red Sox, their Low-A affiliate, with a chance to move up before too long to the High-A Greenville Drive. He has good competition in the Boston organization, but he looks to be ready to continue a solid pro career.

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