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Astros third base prospect J.D. Davis goes back-to-back

After becoming the first repeat winner of the award in the minors this season, Davis was the one to be featured in MiLB.com‘s post about each recipient. In that post, he mentioned that “It’s awesome to get acknowledged for the hard work I’ve put in, especially after the tough start I had.”

Davis takes home the honors on the offensive side from the Texas League, and Jordan Kipper from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim system gets the nod from the bump. With three Leagues in the running, I have put each League’s abbreviation next to the player’s name to help distinguish where each feat is being accomplished. The Eastern League is EL, the Southern League is SL and the Texas League is TL. Yes, it’s just that simple.

Matt Gage (SF, EL): 1-0, 8 IP, 1 hit, 1 HBP, 1 BB, 5 K.

Dwight Smith Jr. (TOR, EL): 11-for-23 (.478), 2 doubles, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 6 runs, 1 SB.

Jacob Faria (TB, SL): 1-0, 7 IP, 1 hit, 1 ER (solo homer), no walks, 11 K.

Jamie Westbrook (ARI, SL): 15-for-27 (.556), 4 doubles, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 6 runs, 2 BB.

Jordan Kipper (LAA, TL): 2-0, 16 IP, 1 SHO, 8 hits, 2 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 8 K.

J.D. Davis (HOU, TL): 13-for-32 (.406), 4 HR, 4 doubles, 9 RBI.

Davis is in an interesting position, which more specifically is a third baseman in the Houston farm system. Colin Moran was called up to the Majors and should get a fair shake as the Astros look for something that works for them. Down in Triple-A Fresno is the reigning PCL MVP in Matt Duffy, and on his own team Davis has had to watch as the Astros first pick in last year’s draft (#2 overall) Alex Bregman gets reps at his position.

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If the Astros are unable to turn things around before the trade deadline, they could be bringing in even more competition as the team sells off some of their impending free agents, but if Houston somehow finds a way to claw their way back into the playoff mix, Davis could see himself on the move in such a trade. Third base is a deep position, and one of the quartet of Moran, Bregman, Davis and Duffy would likely be on the move. Davis is in that weird middle ground where he is potentially the second-best long-term option behind Bregman, so he would bring in a fair return, but he is also slotted behind another talented player on the depth chart.

Only time will tell.

Kipper is an interesting name on this list, because even in an Angels system that is widely regarded as the worst in baseball, he failed to make their preseason top 30. Regardless of rank, Kipper has put up a solid 3.63 ERA with Arkansas. The downside for Kipper is that he has a home run per nine rate of 0.9, which is a bit higher than you’d like to see, and his strikeout numbers (29 in 57 innings) are nothing to write home about, especially when he has walked just about half as many (14) as he has sat down via the strikeout.

From what I’ve read on him, he forces a lot of weak contact with a sinker which he can seemingly command at will. Taylor Blake Ward of Inside the Halos says that Kipper has the potential to be a back-of-the-rotation option for the Angels down the road, and with Garrett Richards potentially out for the foreseeable future and Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson set to become free agents following 2016, Kipper could be pushed this season to prepare him for a possible look in the rotation for next year.

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