With the trade deadline less than a week away, the Pirates made their first of perhaps many moves on Wednesday afternoon acquiring relief pitcher Austin Davis from the Phillies for cash considerations and a player to be named later.
Davis, a 27-year-old lefty has pitched in four games this season for Philadelphia, allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits, striking out two batters in 3.0 innings of work. He has made 50 total appearances throughout his three years in the major leagues, compiling a career record of 1-2 with a 5.86 earned run average.
The Phillies designated Davis for assignment on Friday, August 21.
The Pirates newest arm spent most of the 2019 season in the minor leagues, going 4-1 with a 2.75 ERA in 37 appearances with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, the Phillies triple-A club.
Davis was selected by the Phillies in the 12th round of the 2014 MLB draft out of California State University, Bakersfield. He made his big league debut on June 20. 2018.
The lefty throws four pitches: A fastball that averages 93.8 mph, a slider that averages 83.9 mph, a curveball that averages 79.9 mph and a changeup that comes over at 84.1 mph. Of his four options to throw, the curve is the newest, with him adding it last season.
One thing that Davis has done well throughout his short career in the big leagues is strike batters out. The lefty has a career K/9 of 9.9. Oddly enough, the southpaw's splits are much more favorable against right handed hitters (.262/.345/.482) compared to lefties (.330/.408/.582).
There is no word on if and when the Pirates plan to have Davis join the major league club. The Pirates don't need to make a corresponding roster move after trading for Davis due to the recently acquired Carson Fulmer not officially being on the club's 40-man roster.
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