crash davis

D.J. Davis’ stock, which appeared to be on the rise again after the 2015 season, has plunged this summer. The former first-round pick from Stone County High is batting .199 (up from a recent low of .193) with one home run, 13 RBIs and 26 runs in 69 games at Class A Dunedin. Baseball America once had the left-handed hitting outfielder rated the No. 3 prospect in Toronto’s system. After a rough year at low-A Lansing in 2014, he dropped to No. 21. Back in Lansing for the 2015 season, Davis seemed to find his stride. He cut down on strikeouts and batted .282 with seven homers, seven triples and 21 steals. He entered 2016 rated by BA as the Blue Jays’ 10th-best prospect. He won’t be that high entering 2017. (MLB.com currently has him at No. 23.) Davis has struck out 82 times this season, and walked just 26, in 236 at-bats. Scouting reports rave about his speed, and he has stolen 19 bases in 23 attempts this season. But speed doesn’t play if you can’t get on base. Davis, who turned 22 on July 25, is in his fifth pro season. Double-A is the game’s real proving ground, and Davis hasn’t shown this year that he’s even ready to try that level.