7 years agoHouston Astros third baseman J.D. Davis is off to a strong start at the beginning of spring training for the defending-champion Astros. It may only be 11 at-bats, but Davis has already hit two home runs, driven in four and is hitting .364. Davis saw only 64 at-bats with the big league club last season, but there could be an opportunity now that prospect Colin Moran was traded to the Pirates for starter Gerrit Cole. The 24-year-old Davis hit a combined .282 with 26 home runs and 78 runs batted in splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A in the Astros minor league system last season. Davis has now hit 20-plus home runs in each of his last three minor league seasons and a strong spring training could force the Astros hand. The Astros already have rising star Alex Bregman and even have had Yuli Gurriel working out at different infield positions. Davis is currently blocked to make the big league roster, but an injury at any point this season could find Davis getting regular at-bats in the majors in 2018, provided he continues to produce.--Joey C - RotoBaller
Source: Houston Astros