Matt Davidson (baseball)

Matthew Glen Davidson (born March 26, 1991) is an American professional baseball first baseman who is currently a free agent. He made his MLB debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2013 season and played for the Chicago White Sox from 2016 through 2018 and the Cincinnati Reds in 2020.

Matt Davidson
Davidson for the 2017 Chicago White Sox
Free agent
Third baseman
Born: (1991-03-26) March 26, 1991
Yucaipa, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 11, 2013, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB statistics
(through September 1, 2020)
Batting average.224
Home runs52
Runs batted in154
Teams

Career

Davidson attended Yucaipa High School in Yucaipa, California. He committed to attend the University of Southern California (USC) on a scholarship to play college baseball for the USC Trojans baseball team. After graduating from high school, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Davidson in the first round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.[1] Davidson signed with the Diamondbacks, forgoing his college commitment.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Davidson appeared in 72 games in 2009 for the Yakima Bears. In 2010, Davidson played for the South Bend Silver Hawks of the Class A Midwest League, and hit 16 home runs. He was promoted to the Visalia Rawhide of the Class A-Advanced California League later that season.[2] Prior to the 2011 season, Davidson was ranked as the 99th best prospect by Baseball America.[3] He played for Visalia in 2011.[2] Prior to 2012, he was ranked 97th.[4] That year, he played for the Mobile BayBears of the Class AA Southern League.[2]

Davidson at the 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game

Davidson began the 2013 season with the Reno Aces of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.[2] He appeared in the All-Star Futures Game in 2013, and was named the game's most valuable player after he hit a go-ahead two-run home run.[5] A day later, he won the 2013 Triple-A Home Run Derby, hitting 11 home runs across the three rounds, including seven in the first round, to surpass Brock Peterson's 10.[6] The Diamondbacks promoted Davidson to the major leagues on August 11, 2013.[7] He debuted that night with a 1-for-3 performance as an injury substitute for Cody Ross.[8][9]

Chicago White Sox

On December 16, 2013, the Diamondbacks traded Davidson to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Addison Reed.[10] He played for the Charlotte Knights of the Class AAA International League in 2014 and 2015. He began the 2016 season with Charlotte and was promoted to the major leagues on June 30, 2016. In his first game with the White Sox, he fractured his foot.[11]

Davidson at the 2015 Triple-A Home Run Derby

On April 6, 2017, Davidson hit his first career-triple at his first at-bat since breaking his foot in 2016 against the Detroit Tigers. He hit his first home-run for the White Sox, a three-run blast in the fourth inning. He finished the game logging two hits, two runs, and three RBIs.[12]

On June 13, 2017, Davidson hit his first-career Grand Slam against the Baltimore Orioles with the Chicago White Sox. For the season, he had the highest strikeout percentage among major leaguers against right-handed pitchers (39.9%).[13]

On 2018 Opening Day against the Kansas City Royals on March 29, 2018, Davidson hit three home runs. Davidson became just the fourth player in Major League Baseball History to hit three home runs in a single game on opening day. The White Sox won 14-7.[14]

Texas Rangers

On February 7, 2019, Davidson signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.[15] He was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds for the 2019 season,[16] hitting .264/.325/.527/.852 with 33 home runs and 101 RBI. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.[17]

Cincinnati Reds

On January 2, 2020, Davidson signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds.[18] On July 24, 2020, Davidson had his contract selected to the 40-man roster, and same day, he was the starting designated hitter, making his Reds debut on Opening Day against the Detroit Tigers. But on July 25, 2020, he placed the 10-day injured list for his testing positive for COVID-19. The test ended up being a false positive. [19][20] On September 30, 2020, Davidson was selected back to the 40-man roster.[21] On October 14, 2020, Davidson was outrighted off of the 40-man roster.[22] Davidson elected free agency two days later on October 16.

Personal

Davidson and his wife, Julianne, have two children: a daughter, Brixton, who was born November 2014, and a son, Wake, born July 2016. It was announced on July 25, 2020, that Davidson had tested (false) positive for COVID-19 one day after starting in the season opener.[23]

References
  1. "D-backs load up on bats in Draft". Arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  2. "BASEBALL: For Yucaipa's Taijuan Walker, Matt Davidson, the Futures is now". Dailynews.com. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  3. "2011 Top 100 Prospects: 81-100". Baseballamerica.com. February 23, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  4. "2012 Top 100 Prospects". Baseballamerica.com. February 21, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  5. Mayo, Jonathan. "MLB.com – Davidson named Futures Game MVP after big homer". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  6. Ravich, Jared (July 16, 2013). "MLB.com – Back home, Davidson wins Derby". Milb.com. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  7. "Diamondbacks place Chavez on DL, recall Davidson, De la Rosa". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 11, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  8. "Andrew Brown's pinch-hit HR helps Mets dump D-Backs". ESPN. Associated Press. August 12, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  9. McManaman, Bob (August 11, 2013). "Arizona Diamondbacks' Matt Davidson debuts after Cody Ross' injury". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  10. Gleeman, Aaron (November 26, 2013). "Diamondbacks trade for White Sox closer Addison Reed". NBC Sports. NBC Universal. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  11. Kane, Colleen (June 30, 2016). "Matt Davidson hurt in White Sox debut as bad rookie luck continues". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  12. Schoch, Matt (April 6, 2017). "Davidson, Soto power White Sox past Tigers, 11-2". AP News. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  13. Splits Leaderboards | FanGraphs
  14. "Matt Davidson's 3 HRs help White Sox match record". MLB. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  15. T.R. Sullivan (February 7, 2019). "Rangers ink Pence, Davidson to Minors deals". MLB.com. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  16. "Sounds Announce Tentative Opening Day Roster". milb.com. March 27, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  17. Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  18. Polishuk, Mark (January 2, 2020). "Reds Sign Matt Davidson to Minors Contract". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  19. Mark Sheldon (July 25, 2020). "Davidson to COVID-19 IL; Reds add Aquino". MLB.com. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  20. "Reds' Matt Davidson: Never had COVID-19". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  21. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/reds-set-wild-card-series-roster.html
  22. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/10/reds-outright-four-to-triple-a.html
  23. "Reds infielder tests positive after playing opener". ESPN.com. July 25, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
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