Pirates recall catcher, former No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis from Triple-A

The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled catcher Henry Davis from Triple-A Indianapolis Saturday afternoon in light of an injury sustained Friday by Joey Bart.

Davis had first been added to the MLB taxi squad several hours ahead of the Pirates’ game at Great American Ball Park vs. the Cincinnati Reds.

In a corresponding move, righty reliever Chase Shugart was optioned to Triple-A, creating space for Davis on the 26-man roster.

Bart, who started behind the plate in Friday’s series opener vs. the Reds, left the game in the second inning because of low back discomfort.

Manager Derek Shelton said during the Apple TV+ broadcast that Bart’s “back locked up on him” during his first at-bat.

As a result, Endy Rodriguez moved from first base to catcher for the remainder of the game, an eventual 5-3 loss.

Bart is listed as day-to-day as the Pirates continue evaluating and treating him.

Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft by Pittsburgh, got off to a solid offensive start at Triple-A, slashing .286/.355/.393 with three doubles and two RBIs in eight games with the Indians.

During spring training, before he was sent to Indianapolis to begin the regular season, Davis batted .250 with a pair of homers and five RBIs in 15 Grapefruit League contests.

Davis, 25, made his anticipated MLB debut with the Pirates on June 19, 2023.

Just over a month later on July 21, he made history by becoming the first player to hit two home runs in a game off Shohei Ohtani, then pitching for the Los Angeles Angels.

By year’s end, Davis had wrapped his first big-league campaign by hitting seven homers and 15 doubles with 24 RBIs, batting .214 in 62 games.

But in 2024, Davis was unable to build upon whatever foundation at the plate he laid the season prior.

Over 37 games, he hit just .144 and had a 43% strikeout rate in 104 at-bats.

Davis was demoted to Triple-A in early May and never found any rhythm with his swing upon a handful of abbreviated call-ups to Pittsburgh for the remainder of the year.

He also navigated through a concussion suffered last June in addition to ending the season on the injured list due to a hand ailment.

But to his credit, Davis swung a better bat in 59 minor-league games last year, 57 of which came in Triple-A, where he batted .307 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs.

The 28-year-old Shugart, after being recalled from Triple-A April 6, pitched well in a handful of outings with the Pirates.

In three appearances, he had an ERA of zero, striking out two with two walks over 3 2/3 innings.