Teeple: Khris Davis making his way back with Indy Genomes

August 30, 2022

By Devon Teeple

GMs Perspective

From 2016 to 2018, Khris Davis was one of the most feared hitters in the game, posting three consecutive seasons of 40 plus homers (including a career high of 48 in 2018, the year he knocked in 123).

He was the guy in Oakland, earning the nickname Khrush.

AND … from 2015 to 2018 he was a model of consistency finishing with exactly the same batting average of .247. That’s nuts. Really think about that for a second. Four years in a row with the same average over the course of nearly 2,200 at bats. That will never ever happen again

With a significant drop off in numbers over the 2019-20 seasons, it wasn’t long before Davis was out of big-league ball.

Proves once again that sports is a business and if you’re not producing we all know what’s next.

But as I’ve always said, Indy League baseball is the great equalizer. If you have, talent teams will find you. If you’ve been tossed away and attempting a comeback, the competition will challenge you. When you produce, teams will again find you.

With no offers reported or that I’m aware of, Khrush signed with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the Mexican League. His time there was not what anyone was expecting. In 12 games Davis batted .119 with two RBI. Perhaps those who had given up on him were satisfied with that production.

I have never spoken with Davis, but once a professional, always a pro. In July the Lexington, Ky.-based Wild Health Genomes of the Atlantic League knew they were getting a former MVP calibre player, but were they expecting this?

In only 43 games, Khrush is back at it and looking as good as ever; .286, 15 home runs, 40 RBIs and a .988 OPS which ranks sixth amongst players with over 100 plate appearances.

Still at 34 years old, Davis still has a lot left. And if he doesn’t advance beyond this, he still must be proud of what he’s accomplished. But if a team does give him a shot, you know that they’re getting a guy who will do what it takes.

If going through the Mexican League and the Atlantic League and putting up these types of numbers isn’t proof enough, I don’t know what is.