Curve’s Davis using motivation to get to Pittsburgh
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First stop
Season opener: New Hampshire at Altoona, Thursday, 6 p.m.
Radio: WRTA-AM 1240 & 98.5-FM
By Jarrod Prugar
For the Mirror
Henry Davis is ticked off.
No, not in the way you might think. On the contrary, actually.
Okay, to be fair he said it was 'okay to be pissed off.' About what? Ah, that's what makes Davis special.
Davis was asked about players being disappointed in their minor league assignments with a plethora of players on the Altoona Curve roster having already spent time in Altoona during their careers.
"I don't know if it should be disappointing. You can be pissed off. You can be passionate about it. you can care," Davis said. "Everybody in this locker room should be upset that they're here, and I think everybody in the Triple-A locker room should be upset that they're there.
I think everybody's goal in our system is to be in Pittsburgh. I don't think anybody will be happy at any affiliate, you know what I mean? Our goal is to play in Pittsburgh. Our goal is to win in Pittsburgh," he added.
Playing within the Pirates' system, most if not all players want to or at least should want to get to Pittsburgh and the major leagues. It's not always easy and there's always going to be roadblocks and adversity that get in the way.
Davis is no stranger to that, having spent most of last season on the injured list with a broken wrist. That said, he had to figure out how to get the most from what could be a disappointing time in his development.
It's why his sole focus is on his attitude and how to handle that adversity which ultimately is why it's okay to be upset.
"It's about how you channel that. If you let that control how you play and if you let that control your conduct, shame on you," Davis explained. "But if you say, 'You know what, I'll show them and I'm going to work as hard as I can to be so good that there's no choice but for me to be in Pittsburgh,' I think that's a great attitude. There's no shame in saying that."
Davis has dreamt of playing in Pittsburgh since the moment the Pirates took him with the first overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. If it were up to Davis, he'd have been in Pittsburgh this past Sunday, but unfortunately, baseball doesn't quite work like that, though the time for him to be in the Steel City is coming sooner rather than later.
"I want to be in Pittsburgh right now. Right now. And I think everybody in the locker room feels the same way," Davis said.
To get to Pittsburgh and wear a Pirates jersey, Davis is laser focused on what he needs to do to make it happen regardless of where he starts the season.
"My job is the same no matter what uniform I wear," Davis said. "Contribute where I am and every day is an opportunity to get closer to Pittsburgh."
That focus and drive help make Davis an integral part of the present and future of the Pirates organization and potentially a pillar to build a team around. It's also a larger part in why he goes about his day-to-day business as though he's already in the majors.
"No matter where you are, you're gonna have an opponent that you need to respect and you need to respect the game no matter what you need to play hard," Davis said. "You need to play right no matter what. So just taking that same routine whether I'm here in the big leagues."
Staying healthy is hopefully a big part of Davis' routine. The fact he's not spent much time on the playing field during his short career isn't lost on the rising star.
"It's been unique. I've not been on the field as much as I would have liked and that's given me a perspective I've never really had," Davis said. "Being able to grow in different ways and just kind of whatever deck of cards I have at that moment play the best I can, do my best to help whatever team I'm on win. I think that's something that's gonna play my entire career."
Will there be winning in Davis' future? That's to be determined. Until then his focus is on getting better and reaching Pittsburgh, but also on being the best leader he can be as a catcher for his pitchers and teammates.
"That's been a goal of mine since I remember putting the shin guards on," Davis said. "I could not have a great game offensively and I can still contribute to win. And that comes with being selfless. And that really comes to putting the team above yourself. So since I remember putting the shin guards on, that's been my only goal win games no matter where I am, high school, college, professional and I just want to continue that."