The Pirates got their man.
Henry Davis, the first overall draft pick in the First Year Player Draft last Sunday, has come to terms with the Pirates, per a source.
He is in Pittsburgh for a physical, and should officially sign and be introduced Sunday morning.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it will almost surely be for less than the $8,415,300 slot value the first overall pick carries. That saved money will go a long way towards potentially signing left-hander Anthony Solometo, outfielder Lonnie White Jr. and right-hander Bubba Chandler, three prep players they took in the second and third rounds that will require over-slot deals to sign.
All four of the Pirates' top four picks ranked in Baseball America's top 32 draft prospects.
Davis was not considered the best prospect on any publications' draft previews -- though he was a unanimous top five choice -- but the Pirates had the 21-year-old catcher at the top of their draft board.
Davis was widely considered one of the best, if not the best, hitting prospects available in his draft class. At Louisville this season, he slashed .370/.482/.663 clip with 15 home runs and nine doubles.
Most of the concern with him lied in his blocking and receiving abilities, but the Pirates are optimistic he will continue to grow in those areas.
“We really believe he can catch,” general manager Ben Cherington said the night of the draft. “He’s obviously strong. He’s tough. He has arm strength. Has some feel for game-calling. He’s really worked at the blocking and receiving. I think he would acknowledge there’s still work to do there. Part of what we like about him is he’s so honest about that. He has gotten better. He’ll continue to get better with good practice and coaching. We feel really good that he has the ability to be a good major league defensive catcher.”
Davis should be universally ranked as the top prospect in the Pirates' farm system, which has quickly become one of the best in the sport.
More details to come Sunday.
