Kansas City Royals: Wade Davis looks like himself for one night
By David Hill
One could understand why the Kansas City Royals brought Wade Davis back on a minor league deal. It was a no risk contract, one that Kansas City could walk away from with minimal financial impact if he truly had nothing left. At the very minimum, he would be another veteran presence during spring training, someone that had been a part of the World Series teams in 2014 and 2015 and could help show the young pitchers how to go about being a major leaguer.
This may prove to be a shrewder signing than anyone expected. Davis looked like his former self on Thursday, the dominant reliever that had been a key part of the Royals bullpen in years past.
Wade Davis only threw three pitches above 93 mph in 2020. None were above 93.4 mph. Yesterday, in his first outing, Davis threw five pitches above 93 mph. He touched 95 mph. And five pitches were 93.5 mph and above.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) April 2, 2021
Wade Davis looking like his former self with Kansas City Royals
There was a time when Davis was one of the best relievers in the game. From 2014 through 2017, he posted a 1.45 ERA and a 0.953 WHiP in his 241.1 innings, notching 79 saves while striking out 313 batters with 87 walks. He was a three time All Star in that time, twice earning votes for the Cy Young award.
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That success led to an impressive contract from the Rockies. However, as has been the case with virtually every pitcher that has headed to Colorado, Davis imploded. Although he led the National League with 43 saves in 2018, his time there was generally a disaster, as he posted a 6.49 ERA and a 1.433 WHiP in his 112.1 innings.
While he struggled in Colorado, Davis was actually a solid pitcher on the road. The Royals had to consider that when they signed him to that minor league contract, taking a calculated gamble that he could once again return to form away from the thin air in Denver. As he had solid results during the spring, it appeared as though the Royals were correct in their assessment.
In reality, it is just one game. Players get amped up on Opening Day; even veterans get an extra boost of adrenaline for that first game of the season. As exciting as it may be to see Davis have that extra gear again, there is no guarantee that he will continue to do so throughout the season.
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For one game, Wade Davis is looking like the pitcher he was during his first stint with the Kansas City Royals. He just needs to keep it up.