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Khris Davis not quite back to form for Oakland A’s

By David Hill

Sep 12, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics designated hitter Khris Davis (11) stands outside of the dugout during the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics designated hitter Khris Davis (11) stands outside of the dugout during the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oakland A’s certainly had nothing to lose by giving Khris Davis a chance. He had been surprisingly dominant at Triple-A, crushing home runs and looking as though he was ready to be that power hitter that he had been in the past. As the A’s desperately needed right handed pop in the lineup, it made sense to bring Davis up when the rosters expanded.

This month was important for both sides. The A’s needed Davis to be that power source he had been in the past as they attempted to pull back into the playoffs. Davis, meanwhile, needed to prove that he could still be a viable major league option, that his struggles over the past couple of years were due to injury that caused him to lose his swing.

Khris Davis showing signs of usefulness

Davis has certainly been better than he was after his wrist injury, or during his time with the Rangers. He has produced a .276/.300/.379 batting line in his 30 plate appearances since being recalled, hitting three doubles while striking out nine times.

However, it is clear that he is not quite back to being the player he once was. He has yet to homer since being brought back to Oakland, and has drawn just one walk in his return. While Davis did strike out more than average in his prime, he also drew plenty of walks as teams respected his impressive power.

Nonetheless, Davis is giving some hope that he can be that player once again. He has taken over as the A’s primary designated hitter over the past few weeks, pushing Jed Lowrie into more of a reserve role. He will get more opportunities in the next couple of weeks, especially as the A’s are beginning to close back in on a playoff berth.

Should Davis continue to produce a respectable batting average, and potentially hit a homer or two, he could be an intriguing free agent. It would not be a surprise to see the A’s bring him back once again, likely signing him to a minor league deal with an opt-out date. Such a deal could work for both sides, especially if Davis is able to continue making strides towards getting back to himself.

Next. Kaprielian gets reprieve. dark

Khris Davis has been solid for the Oakland A’s in September. While he may not be back to his former ways, he is showing signs that he is on the right track.