Royals minor-leaguer Logan Davis has already played at four affiliates this season
Where in the minor leagues is Logan Davis?
It’s not a game, it’s a legitimate question. The infielder/outfielder already has played for four Royals minor-league affiliates this season. The natural order of things for a player is to move up the ladder until he’s made it to the big leagues.
Davis’ season has been anything but normal. He opened with Class AA Northwest Arkansas in May playing two games.
Davis, 22, was sent to Class A-Advanced Wilmington in June for two games, then was dropped to Rookie-Advanced Idaho Falls for a pair of games. A promotion to Class AAA Omaha followed, but after playing five games, he went back to Idaho Falls for one game.
And now? Davis is right back where he started — in Northwest Arkansas, where he has played three games.
“He’s versatile, can play a lot of positions,” said Royals assistant general manager J.J. Picollo. “A smart ballplayer and just somebody that we see as that type of player. He can go to any level and hold his own.
“Because of the versatility — and he can run a little bit — he’s the guy we’ve been bouncing around while we’re short on some rosters at the upper level. He’s been OK with it. He’s handled it very well.”
Davis is the son of former Royals pitcher Mark Davis, who is the pitching coach at Idaho Falls. The younger Davis signed as a non-drafted free agent last year out of San Diego University and he played at Rookie Surprise and Idaho Falls.
This season at Idaho Falls, Davis hit .429 (three for seven), while he batted .400 (two for five) at Wilmington. He had a .294 average (five for 19) at Omaha.
With Northwest Arkansas, he’s batting just .091 (one for 11), but you can’t really blame him for having trouble getting settled. He’s played second base, shortstop, third base and in the outfield this season.
“He grew up in a baseball family, has been around a baseball field and just has the right attitude toward the game,” Picollo said. “Because he was a little more mature beyond his years of experience, we felt like he could handle it.”
The Star’s Top 15 Prospect List
1. Kyle Zimmer, P, Rehab assignment | Hopes to be pitching one-inning stints in the minors by season’s end |
2. Raul Mondesi, SS, Class A-Adv. Wilmington | Batting .294 in his last 10 games |
3. Hunter Dozier, 3B, Class AA Northwest Arkansas | Has reached base in 12 of his last 13 games with the Naturals |
4. Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Northwest Arkansas | Has 94 strikeouts in 93 games this season |
5. Sean Manaea, LHP, Wilmington | Has 13 strikeouts and 10 walks this month |
6. Christian Binford, RHP, Class AA Northwest Arkansas | In three games since promotion, he has a 3.38 ERA. |
7. Brandon Finnegan, LHP, Wilmington | Retired all 12 batters he’s faced in two starts |
8. Miguel Almonte, RHP, Wilmington | Has a 7.54 ERA in his last three starts |
9. Jason Adam, RHP, Class AAA Omaha | Promoted to the Storm Chasers on Thursday |
10. Bubba Starling, OF, Wilmington | Struck out just five times in his last nine games |
11. Orlando Calixte, 3B, Northwest Arkansas | Batting just .198 in 20 games since the All-Star break |
12. Cheslor Cuthbert, INF, Northwest Arkansas | Batting .158 in the month of July |
13. Ramon Torres, 2B, Wilmington | In a miserable zero-for-15 slump |
14. Elier Hernandez, OF, Class A Lexington | Batting .268 since the start of June |
15. Whit Merrifield, IF/OF Omaha | Has a 15-game hitting streak snapped on Friday night |
This story was originally published July 19, 2014 at 7:28 PM with the headline "Royals minor-leaguer Logan Davis has already played at four affiliates this season."