LOOK: Chris Davis Batting Average Highest Since 2017
After a mega-slump to start the 2019 season, Chris Davis has totally turned things around. Now, his batting average is the highest it’s been since the end of the 2017 season.
Five Orioles starters went hitless on Friday, a combined 0-for-18, in their 8-3 loss to the Angels at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Chris Davis, however, was not one of them. Davis was actually the only Oriole to have multiple hits, including a 400-foot homer in the bottom of the seventh, and draw a walk.
In four plate appearances, Crush reached base three times and the only time he was retired came on a line drive that was absolutely smoked.
#CRUSHED. pic.twitter.com/EiJHqYVHxv
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 11, 2019
Earlier this season, Davis was struggling badly, resulting in futile records and even more headlines making him the butt of the joke. And although few are writing about it (or paying attention) now, he’s completely turned things around. In 19 games since his mega-slump ended on April 13th, he’s hitting .309 with four homers and a .377 on-base percentage.
As a result, he’s closing in on .200 for the year. Right now, his batting average is at .193, the highest it’s been since the final day of the 2017 season.
Last year, in a season that was the worst in MLB history, the highest his average got was .186 (on May 4th, 2018).
In 99 plate appearances this year, the two-time home run king also has nine walks, lifting his season-long OBP to a respectable .283. By comparison, that’s higher than almost 50 other MLB hitters with at least 75 plate appearances, including Evan Longoria, Yasiel Puig, and current AL home run king Eddie Rosario.
Honestly, it seems like Davis is back to normal, a place where he can play regularly without anyone worrying if he can get the job done. He’ll get up over .200 this year, I know it, and hopefully soon. And if he finishes there, that will be a success, as crummy as it sounds. Having back-to-back seasons on the interstate looks really bad on the back of a baseball card.