BASEBALL

Khris Davis needs a bounce back 2020 season

6 years ago - Sportingbase

In analyzing player statistics in Major League Baseball leading into the 2020 Major League Baseball regular season, the statistical line of Oakland Athletics outfielder Khris Davis of Lakewood, CA in 2019, could be considered a disappointment. This past year, Davis had a career worst .220 batting average, and had career lows in on base percentage (.293) and slugging percentage (.387) as well.

Yes, Davis had injuries in 2019 to his hip, oblique and hand. However Davis came nowhere close to posting the statistics he put together in 2018, when he was considered one of the premier hitters in the game.

In 2018, Davis led Major League Baseball with 48 home runs. He also batted .247 with career highs in runs scored (98), hits (142), runs batted in (123) and total bases (316).

However in 2019, Davis saw his batting average drop 27 percentage points. He only scored 61 runs, and had 106 hits, 11 doubles (17 double drop from 2018), 23 home runs, 73 runs batted in and 186 total bases. Even if Davis had been healthy in 2019, he would not have come close to the outstanding season he put together two years ago.

Davis has been with the Athletics since 2016 after beginning his first three Major League Baseball seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. He will be part of an Athletics franchise that could do some damage in 2020. A likely contender for a playoff spot and maybe even an American League West division title if the Houston Astros falter, Davis is part of a batting lineup in Oakland that includes first baseman Matt Olson, third baseman Matt Chapman and shortstop Marcus Semien.

However the one area that the Athletics could be impressive is in their pitching staff. It is projected to be led by Mike Fiers, Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas in 2020. Meanwhile, rookies Jesus Lozardo and A.J. Puk could provide Oakland some excellent innings from the back end of the starting rotation.