2021 #1 overall MLB draft pick promoted to the Indians

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — “Here comes Henry!”: Henry Davis, the No. 1 overall Major League Baseball draft pick in 2021 and the Pittsburgh Pirates’ No. 3 prospect, is joining up with the Indianapolis Indians this upcoming season.

The MLB announced in a release Tuesday that Davis, 23, who is being promoted by the Pirates, is navigating his way through the MLB Pipeline, leaving the Double-A Altoona Curve to the Triple-A Indians.

Davis spoke with News 8 Tuesday and shared how much of an honor it is to play with the Indians.

“It’s a special club and I hope that every day I get closer to the big leagues, I get closer to making an impact that reflects on the club. I try not to daydream too much, but just stay focused and continue to do what I need to do,” Davis said.

While Davis is making a pit stop in Indianapolis, the MLB says still has his sights on Pittsburgh.

“Nobody in any clubhouse in the Minor Leagues really wants to be there. we all had a goal from the time we were kids. Everybody’s goal is to be in the big leagues. Put all your energy into that every day, and hopefully, good things will happen,” Davis said in the release.

Before his time with the Curve, Davis attended the University of Louisville and played for the Louisville Cardinals. There, he ranked among Atlantic Coast Conference leaders in several categories, and was also named a finalist for the Buster Posey Award for college baseball’s top catchers in the NCAA Division I.

While with the Curve, Davis smoked several home runs in his 41 games with the team. Even after dealing with issues with his left wrist, he produces extreme exit velocities and showed improvement in decision making.

Now that Davis has joined the Indians, the MLB says Pittsburgh will have to decide how to balance Davis with its No. 2 prospect on the same team, Endy Rodriguez.

As the Indians play six times a week, the release says, the MLB believe Pittsburgh will balance them both to play three games a week.

Davis was set to make his debut for the Indians as starting backstop for their first of six games against the Omaha Storm Chasers Tuesday night. He is the fourth first-position player to be selected No. 1 overall to play with the Indians in franchise history, the Indians said in a release Tuesday.

The Indians also announced his arrival by sharing a picture of Davis’ jersey on Twitter Tuesday afternoon, with the caption, “Fresh off the press, No. 9.” They also shared a video of Davis arriving at Victory Field, with the caption excitedly calling out, “HENRY’S HERE.”