PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets preach versatility, but newcomer J.D. Davis maybe takes that concept to an extreme.
A right-handed hitter with power who last season led the Pacific Coast League in hitting for the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate, the 25-year-old Davis also possesses decent enough stuff to be considered for occasional bullpen work.
In three relief appearances for the Astros over the past two seasons, Davis posted a 3.38 ERA and 1.125 WHIP, albeit in a small sample size of 2 ²/₃ innings.
“I am not going to be itching to get on the mound and show anybody what I can do, but if they need me to throw a bullpen or throw on flat ground, I am not against it,” Davis said after taking batting practice Sunday at the Mets’ spring training complex. “It’s just one more little tool to wear around my belt.”
Davis, who arrived in a trade last month that sent minor leaguers Ross Adolph, Scott Manea and Luis Santana to the Astros and also netted farmhand Cody Bohanek, is more concerned about showing team officials he can hit and field respectably at other positions.
As it stands, the Mets might unofficially lead the National League in corner infield/outfield possibilities and will devote much of this spring to figuring out who fits.
Davis joins Peter Alonso, Todd Frazier and Dominic Smith among those trying to show they belong at first base. Jed Lowrie recently signed a two-year contract worth $20 million and figures to receive most of the reps at third base, another position possibility for Davis. And the corner outfielders include Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil, who has been squeezed from the infield.
Davis was limited to 103 at-bats for the Astros last season and batted .175, but he led the PCL with a .342 batting average and added 17 homers in 85 games.
With the Astros, his path was largely blocked by Alex Bregman and Yuli Gurriel.
“It’s kind of hard — a superstar like Bregman in front of me — to at least crack the lineup, and then you have a guy they paid a lot of money, Yuli, so it’s hard to get in that lineup,” Davis said. “Every time I was sitting on the bench two, three or four days and finally would get a pinch hit or a start and then would get a couple of days on the bench, so it was really hard to get in a rhythm, especially at that level.”
A major league talent evaluator indicated Davis can “get beat” by a plus fastball.“But he’s a good offspeed hitter with good power,” the evaluator said. “He has some swing and miss and can get a little long at times. Adequate defensively, maybe a step short. Great arm.”
Davis was a starting pitcher in high school and early in his college career at Cal State Fullerton before switching to the bullpen as a sophomore.
Though it’s hard to envision Davis entering to pitch for the Mets in a key spot, he could be used in a mop-up role if needed to keep other arms in the bullpen fresh for manager Mickey Callaway.
“If Mick wants me to pitch and I have an opportunity to save the bullpen five innings on the year — I don’t know, 10, I have no idea,” Davis said. “I can go out there and pitch and try to sling it, throw it as hard as I can and at least throw strikes, but right now, I am just concentrating on defense and hitting.”