New Giant Davis showing off 'tremendous power'

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When J.D. Davis underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left middle finger on Oct. 5, 2021, his surgeon told him it would take about 10 to 12 months for him to fully regain his grip strength. That timeline ended up aligning nearly perfectly with the Aug. 2 Trade Deadline, when Davis was sent from the Mets to the Giants as part of the Darin Ruf deal.

Finally healthy, Davis is making the most of his fresh start with the Giants, especially now that he’s beginning to rediscover his power stroke. The 29-year-old slugged four home runs in his first 12 games with San Francisco, matching his total from 66 games with the Mets this season. Entering Wednesday, the Elk Grove, Calif., native is batting .279 with a .961 OPS over 50 plate appearances with the Giants.

What’s behind Davis’ surge?

“It’s a little bit all of the above,” Davis said. “My hand is finally feeling better… and then on top of that, the change of scenery. You’re seeing familiar faces here on the West Coast. It’s not humid, it’s not crazy, so that definitely has a play in it. Third thing, too, these guys on this coaching staff have been pretty good so far. They’ve helped me out, just to fine-tune my approach at the plate. Good things are happening.”

Davis enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with the Mets in 2019, batting .307 with an .895 OPS and a career-high 22 home runs, but he struggled to replicate that success in his subsequent seasons in New York. His hand injury sapped his power in 2021 and forced him to spend the bulk of the offseason rehabbing, preventing him from regaining a regular role with the Mets.

He’s in a better spot now with the Giants. Like Ruf, Davis is a right-handed bat who draws most of his starts against left-handed pitching, but he’s younger and offers a bit more defensive versatility through his ability to play first and third base, as well as the corner outfield. With relatively even splits, Davis has also gotten looks against righties and a steady flow of pinch-hitting opportunities.

“He’s got tremendous power,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “I think maybe it’s just finding his rhythm and groove and being on time. He’s been swinging the bat really well. I think it just might be a comfort thing.”

Davis, who is under team control through 2024, could be in line for a bigger role next season, as veteran Evan Longoria is in the final guaranteed year of his contract and has said he’s unsure if he wants to keep playing beyond this year. If the Giants find themselves with an opening at third base, expect Davis to be part of the solution.