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Jonathan Davis Scouting Report, Toronto Blue Jays — December, 2017


Full Name: Jonathan R. Davis
DOB: May 12, 1992 (25)
Birthplace: Camden, AR
School: University of Central Arkansas
Acquired: 15th Round, 2013 MLB Draft
Height, Weight: 5’8”, 190 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Dates Observed: October – November, 2017
Affiliate(s): Peoria Javelinas (Arizona Fall League)


Tool (FV)
Notes & Comments
Hit (45)
Wide stance with significant leg kick and weight transfer to load for leverage; short, choppy stroke with good bat speed. Approach can reach all fields; gap-to-gap line drive orientation with good doubles alley in right-center gap. Good pitch tracker; advanced strike zone awareness and pitch recognition. Above-average bat speed with some lift, but little natural physical leverage for power; undersized. Tendency to get overly pull-focused at times in approach, and can lose coverage of outer half, but generally good discipline to all fields based on how he’s being pitched. Will change approach markedly with two strikes, shortening stride, cutting leg kick and minimizing weight transfer. Bat ultimately slightly below average due to weaker ground ball contact, but at times he really reminds me of a nearly-as-athletic, less projectable version of Toronto Blue Jays outfield prospect Anthony Alford.

Power (40)
Undersized; lacks ideal physical stature and possesses little raw over-the-fence power. Feel for the barrel with good bat speed and some manipulation to lift the ball, but not enough natural physical strength to produce significant pop. At his age, likely very little physical projection left, and unlikely to see a path forward where he’s a significant power contributor short of gap-to-gap doubles helped by good foot speed, but he’ll sneak a few home runs here and there.

Glove (60)
Advanced in center field; plays like a natural with good reads on the ball off the bat and very good routes to the ball. Uses speed well and can cover some ground. Reliable defensively; situational awareness evident with good instincts. Natural fit for a platoon role in center field, or as a bench outfielder who can play all three spots over time.

Arm (50)
Unspectacular but reliable arm strength from the outfield. Consistent and accurate enough to do the job; lacks the velocity and punch you’d expect of an above-average arm, but certainly not deficient either. Good enough for center field, will play well enough across in utility role.

Speed (60)
Consistent sub-4.20 times out of the box across AFL; quick first step and runs hard out of the box, making him a particular challenge for infielders. Speed tracks well to center field where he’s quick to get up to his top pace. Undersized with lack of height is an asset here, as he’s sprinting after a few strides without the long limbs to coordinate and work slowly into sprint (the opposite of a guy like Victor Reyes). Ultimately, an above-average athlete across the board with good foot speed that’s put to good use.

Notes
Old for a prospect after a slower development path to this point, especially for a college product, but Jonathan Davis has turned himself into a sneaky-good outfield candidate in the coming years for the Toronto Blue Jays. His window is smaller than most and he should settle into a smaller big league role, but there’s enough here to make an impact still. Far more likely to fall into a bench or platoon role than an everyday job, but reminds me a bit of a poor man’s Anthony Alford, especially in regards to athleticism, swing mechanics, and approach at the plate. (Davis’ ceiling isn’t as high as Alford’s, and he could serve as a nice bench/backup complement to Alford in Toronto one day.) Looking the other way, Jonathan Davis is, for me, what Toronto Blue Jays prospect Reggie Pruitt looks like at ceiling one day in the future. (Click here for our profile on Pruitt from earlier this winter.)

OFP (45 FV)
Speed and natural defensive acumen with a bat that lags behind a bit combine to make Jonathan Davis a natural fit for a platoon gig in center field (or across multiple positions) at ceiling; he’ll fill out a bench role at floor, whether as a fifth outfielder or in an up-and-down capacity. Slower road to get to this point than most prospects, but now close to providing big league value and should break through at some point in 2018 and could turn into a nice bench piece for the Toronto Blue Jays. MLB ETA: 2018.

Jonathan Davis Scouting Report, Toronto Blue Jays — Game Video

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Did you like this Jonathan Davis scouting report? More reports here:

Riley Adams (C, Blue Jays)
Kevin Vicuna (SS, Blue Jays)
Reggie Pruitt (OF, Blue Jays)
Bobby Poyner (LHP, Red Sox)
Kwang-Min Kwon (OF, Cubs)
Max Povse (RHP, Mariners)
Ismael Munguia (OF, Giants)
Ronald Acuna (OF, Braves)
Sam Huff (C, Rangers)
Victor Robles (OF, Nationals)

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Bobby DeMuro

Bobby DeMuro is the founder of Baseball Census, the author of We Is Blaze, (obviously) a fan of minor league baseball, and an unlikely expert on the animated classic TV show King Of The Hill. For more on Bobby and the personal, human side of this site, follow him on Twitter and Facebook: @BobbyDeMuro.

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