Davis has work to do before joining A’s
The former Oakland star is now in Triple-A
Not long after signing a minor league deal, Khris Davis joined the Triple-A Las Vegas roster this week with a chance to crack the A’s big league roster sometime this season. For that to happen, Davis must show some of the consistent power he flashed in the 2016-18 seasons.
“It’s the bat and the power we’ve seen from him in the past,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Sometimes you just need to get back to some of the performances that you’ve had in the past and it ignites something in you. I don’t think age is that big a deal with him, at this point. He was consistent for a long period and then had a period where he wasn’t and things fell off for him.”
Davis, 33, returned to the A’s organization on Aug. 4 after the Texas Rangers released him on June 13. The A’s slugger who led MLB with 48 home runs in 2018 has spiraled since colliding with the outfield fence at PNC Park in Pittsburgh in May of 2019. Davis hit two home runs in 30 games (out of 60) with the A’s in 2020, and was traded to the Texas Rangers as part of a deal that netted Oakland shortstop Elvis Andrus. Dealing with injuries, Davis hit two home runs and batted
.157 with the Rangers in 22 games before his release.
Because of the conditions, Las Vegas Ballpark and the Triple-A West league is known to be a hitter’s haven. In two games since his promotion, Davis is batting 3-for-8 with a double with the Aviators.
“Maybe being back with his old team and a couple of good games, who knows what can happen from there,” Melvin said. “There’s no timetable or plans, at this point, to get him here. But he wanted to play for us again, and we’re hoping that it goes well.”
Nick Allen was also promoted to Las Vegas fresh off winning a silver medal with Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics. Allen, 22, is considered to be MLBready defensively, his glove at shortstop has him as the A’s third-ranked prospect, per MLB’s rankings. Allen went 6-for-21 with a home run in Team USA’s run and was also named the best defensive player for the Olympic baseball tournament among all teams. His
numbers at the plate on the Olympic stage are encouraging from the A’s perspective.
“It’s very exciting, he came off something that would suggest that ups the ante as far as what you’ve experienced in a game,” Melvin said. “I’ve never experienced it, everyone I’ve talked to that plays for their country says its a one of a kind thing. And he did well, so probably deservedly so that he’s in triple-A. His glove has always been fantastic, could play at the big leagues now, it’s all about getting his offense more experience and this is his first shot at Triple-A and the timing is really good for that.”
Elvis Andrus was placed on the paternity list Saturday morning and infielder Vimael Machin was recalled and started at shortstop for the A’s game against the Rangers. Andrus is expected back on Tuesday during Oakland’s trip to Chicago to play the White Sox.
Until then, the shortstop job could shuffle between a few players. Matt Chapman may not be one of them.
“I prefer with the workload for Chapman to keep him at third,” Melvin said. “(Saturday) was going to be a day off for Chap, but with a couple issues, it’s not.”
Josh Harrison received treatment on his quadricep strain on Friday and ran the field on Saturday, but doesn’t have a return date circled.
Chad Pinder will start his rehab assignment in Las Vegas with the Aviators on Sunday. The utility player has been on the injured list since July 8 with a hamstring strain. He could play around five games in Las Vegas.