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PITTSBURGH – Henry Davis loved his time in Louisville. That’s what helped make the hard-hitting receiver the No. 1 overall pick in the entry draft.
Still, he couldn’t wait to move on. So rather than bother negotiating with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Davis practically rushed to the negotiating table to do something, signing with Pittsburgh on Sunday just a week after baseball commissioner Rob Manfred called his last name.
“Getting signed right away is important to me,” Davis told PNC Park. “I want to start playing. There’s no time to waste, really. Make the most of it, get to work, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.”
Davis accepted a signing bonus of $ 6.5 million, which is almost $ 2 million less than the slot machine’s value of $ 8.4 million. The deal allows Pittsburgh to spend money on some of its other 20 picks as the team stores talent in a top-down reset under the leadership of general manager Ben Cherington.
After meeting Davis before the draft, Cherington was optimistic the 21-year-old would do what he could to speed up negotiations.
“Like Henry said, we’re excited but probably not surprised that we can get in here and do it so quickly,” Cherington said. “We know Henry wants to come out and take care of it.”
Davis made a quick tour of Pittsburgh on Saturday, including a stop at the Roberto Clemente Museum a short distance from PNC Park. He stayed on for the team’s 9-7 comeback against the New York Mets, a grand slam victory capped by wide receiver Jacob Stallings.
Davis, who has hit 15 home runs in 50 games for the Cardinals in 2021, is in awe of one of the majors’ most beloved parks. Yet it was the constant message he received from Cherington, manager Derek Shelton and other staff that convinced him of the idea of landing in Pittsburgh.
“The stadium was great, but everyone here had the same attitude, working to win,” said Davis. “Talking with them is what really made me want to be a pirate.”
However, it will be some time before Davis has the opportunity to make regular trips to PNC Park for work. He will report to the franchise’s training headquarters in Bradenton, Florida, where he will play in the Florida Complex League.
Cherington hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Davis being promoted to a higher ranking by the end of the summer.
“We’re interested in challenging players and we want players who can be challenged,” Cherington said. “If we think there is an opportunity to challenge a player, including Henry and anyone else, we will look for that opportunity. We want the guys not to be overwhelmed but challenged, and there is definitely has playing time this summer and the rest of the season to see how it goes. “
Davis was not shy when asked if he had set specific goals to achieve over the next two months.
“One … is just to be the best leader you can be and to help my teammates in any way you can once you get to Bradenton,” said Davis. “Help guys get better. When we work together, it’s better for everyone.”
Davis met some of the team’s other college draft picks and had a brief exchange with All-Star second baseman Adam Frazier when the two were in Denver for the All-Star game last week. Frazier is likely leaving town with the trade deadline looming at the end of the month.
Davis’ journey has only just begun.
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