Chicago White Sox Matt Davidson looking to become two way player

Matt Davidson had a great deal of success for a position player pitching. He had so much success that the Chicago White Sox are going to allow him to train as a pitcher this offseason.

Typically, when a position player pitches, not much is expected. They may get the final few outs of a game, with their lobs in good for a laugh or two. Every once in a while, a position player pitches well enough where they get additional looks throughout the year. This was the case with Chicago White Sox infielder Matt Davidson, who took the mound three times in 2018.

He found success as a pitcher, even if it came during blowouts. Over his two innings, Davidson allowed only two baserunners on a hit and a walk over three innings, while notching two strikeouts. Obviously, it is a small sample size, but Davidson did better than the typical position player on the mound.

In fact, he did well enough where the White Sox are going to allow him to train as a pitcher this offseason. Despite what may seem to be an endorsement, there is no guarantee that Davidson will have a role in the Chicago bullpen next year.

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Nonetheless, it is an interesting move. If Davidson does take well to his training, and performs well on the mound during Spring Training, he could give the White Sox another weapon. It would also allow the team to potentially save a reliever, with Davidson coming in to face a batter or two before moving back to either first or third.

This would not be the first time such an experiment was attempted. The Padres tried making Christian Bethancourt into a super utility player, including giving him a chance on the mound. In that case, the results did not go as planned, with Bethancourt allowing 14 baserunners on six hits and eight walks over his 3.2 innings in 2017.

Even with the cautionary tale that is Bethancourt, two way players are starting to find their way back into the modern game. Shohei Ohtani was the most notable, performing well on the mound and in the batter’s box until he required Tommy John surgery. Yet, there are other such players in the minors, with Brendan McKay, William English, and Tanner Dodson leading the way.

Although Davidson’s value will come primarily from his bat, he would be even more valuable if this experiment goes well. With teams looking to maximize their bench, and to have as many options as possible, Davidson would become a tremendous asset.

There is still a long way to go before Matt Davidson becomes a true two way player. However, the Chicago White Sox are at least willing to entertain the idea.