Pirates' Henry Davis Making Big Changes at Plate

He also ranks as one of the worst hitters in baseball, with at least 250 plate appearances, the third-lowest batting average, fourth-lowest OPS and both the eighth-lowest on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

Davis spoke postgame about changes he's made, including activating his back leg and figuring out how to do that while maintaining full-time catching duties.

"Just some back leg stuff," Davis said. "Think sometimes — obviously, I haven't hit well since I started catching, and when I started catching well, I started doing right knee down. It really fatigues your back leg, which obviously as a hitter, you want to get started and be able to hold it. So I'm trying some different things to be able to activate it before I get up in the box, and I feel like it's really helped me.

Davis also had some good at-bats in this game, aside from the home run, as he hit a ball to the right field wall in the sixth inning, but Angels right fielder Wade Meckler made a great catch to rob Davis of an extra-base hit.

It's been tough for Davis to find consistency at the plate, putting in the work to try and become the hitter the Pirates drafted him as.

Davis is just looking for any way he can get better and has worked with the coaching staff, manager Don Kelly in particular, and the back leg/hip activation has been his main goal.

"I don't know. I feel like the last couple years I feel pretty good before the game with my work, and then it doesn't really click in the game oftentimes, and sometimes it does," Davis said. "And then I had a conversation with DK about how, when I go into the game, I just kind of rake.

"Like if I'm randomly put in the game or somebody comes out from an injury, I've had really good numbers. That started the curiosity train there, and I feel like if there's certain things I can do to help activate my back hip as I'm going in, I need to do it."

Davis' Defense Still Big Asset for Pirates

The offense may still be a work in progress, but Davis is one of the best defensive catchers in all of baseball.

His four stolen bases runs saved (rSB) and nine defensive runs saved (DRS) ranked tied for most and fourth-most of any catcher with at least 650 innings played in 2026.

Davis also helped in one crucial winning play for the Pirates, making the tag out at home plate on the relay from center fielder Oneil Cruz to second baseman Brandon Lowe and got Angels shortstop Zach Neto out to keep the shutout alive in the fifth inning.

Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes, who has Davis as his personal catcher, praised his defense while acknowledging he forgot where he was supposed to be on the play.

“It was a pretty good play," Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes said. "I’m going to be on some videos about what not to do as a pitcher. You’re supposed to back up home plate there. Truthfully, I wasn’t really expecting him to go home. Really nice play by them.”