Astros Future Player of the Week: J.D. Davis
It was a much better week for the Corpus Christi Hooks. After going 0-6 last week, the Hooks improved to go 4-3 and inch closer to the .500 mark. One player that helped with the weeks success was J.D. Davis. Davis turned in an 11-for-30 (.367) performance, with eight runs scored, two doubles, three home runs, and four RBI. With that, J.D. Davis has been named the Astros Future Player of the Week.
Davis is now in his fourth season of professional baseball. He spent all of 2016 with Corpus Christi playing in 126 games. Demonstrating his power, Davis belted 23 homers for the Hooks. With the nine he has so far in 2017, he is on pace to beat that mark and even potentially beat his career high of 26 (Lancaster 2015). His batting average is slightly higher so far this season and he is striking out a little less as well.
The Hooks have been playing Davis at several positions this season. Third baseman by trade, Davis has played a little in the outfield and also has seen some time at first base. Having positions filled at the major league level is a nice problem for Houston to have. Unfortunately those roadblocks are tough on prospects in the system, but the ability to play multiple positions can only help them in their journey.
Davis was drafted by Houston in the third round of the 2014 draft. He was originally selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth round in 2011, but instead attended Cal State Fullerton. So far in his professional career, Davis has played 352 games with a batting average of .282. He has hit 71 home runs and driven in 252 runs.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Another Hooks’ player that was under consideration for the weekly award was Jon Singleton. On the week Singleton went 7-for-25 with three home runs and nine RBI. Singleton is back in Double-A for the first time since 2013 and is trying to work his way back to Houston.
Buies Creek Astros’ pitchers Alex Winkelman and Nick Hernandez fared pretty well this week too. Winkelman made two appearances (one start) and chipped in 9.1 innings. He allowed just one unearned run and struck out 14, and also collected a win. Hernandez picked up two more saves on the season bringing his total to six which is tops in the Carolina League.
Derek Fisher of the Fresno Grizzlies continues to impress. He chipped in nine hits and sent two out of the yard. He is currently batting .323 this season with nine home runs and 25 RBI. If you weren’t keeping an eye on him before you better start.
Quad Cities River Bandits Rodrigo Ayarza had a nice week as well. The utility infielder from Panama went 9-for-19 scoring four and driving in six.
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**Photo Credit: Tammy Tucker**
