Spring Training action is fully underway and the Chicago Cubs have seemingly completed their roster with the Cody Bellinger signing. However, the first 10 Cactus League games have highlighted some of the youth that the organization has been stockpiling for the last few years. Perhaps it truly is time for the youngins to take that next step, and they’ll need reinforcements to complement the likes of Bellinger, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, and others.
One player has become almost forgotten among the buzz on the Cubs’ farm. Once a top prospect for the team, outfielder Brennen Davis has slipped down the top 30 list. At the end of the 2023 season, Davis was considered the No. 19 prospect in the Cubs organization. Now, he’s not even ranked.
Davis’ slip certainly wasn’t due to a talent deficit, as highlighted by his home run and three RBI in the Cubs’ Spring Training win over the San Francisco Giants, but rather due to injuries. In 2022, Davis dealt with a nasty back injury and followed that up in 2023 with a core muscle injury. Both setbacks required surgery, and Davis hasn’t looked like the player who won MVP in the 2021 Futures Game and earned Cubs’ Minor League Player of the Year honors following the same campaign.
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Davis looks healthy and primed to prove that he’s still the same player that fans were drooling over following the 2021 season. With that in mind, is a healthy Davis the Cubs’ biggest wild card for the 2024 season?
The Cubs will need power, there’s no doubt about it. Although Bellinger, Christopher Morel, and Seiya Suzuki can all provide 30-homer pop, additional power to complement Happ, Swanson, Patrick Wisdom, and Michael Busch would be a plus. Additionally, injuries can always derail the progress of certain players, as highlighted by Happ’s latest injury.
Perhaps Davis steps up to the plate, metaphorically and literally, and adds more power in the event of inevitable injuries. He likely won’t be a 25+ homer player, but he could bring another 15-20 home runs to the lineup.
Naturally, the biggest question mark with Davis, assuming he’s healthy, back in form, and in the majors, is his position. Davis can play all three outfield spots but is best suited for left field. Unfortunately for Davis, Happ plays a Gold Glove left field, so he likely won’t be out of the lineup. Davis certainly could line up on certain days at any spot to give players a break, but the designated hitting role could be Davis’ home in 2024 if he’s in Chicago and not Des Moines.
Entering 2024, Davis is a wild card for the Cubs. The former top prospect is still only 24 years old and is one of the closest prospects to the majors. A healthy version of Davis could be one of those many important pieces from within if the Cubs truly plan on contending this year.
