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In Tuesday’s spring training matchup against the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs outfielder Brennen Davis was hit in the head by a pitch. Carson Rudd threw a breaking ball that didn’t break, and the turning Davis was hit in the back of his batting helmet. He lost balance and went straight to the ground.
Davis did climb back to his feet and jogged to first base under his own power. Manager Craig Counsell and the training staff came from the dugout to meet with him at first base. After deliberating for a couple of minutes, Davis won the argument and was able to stay in the game. He eventually came around to score.
Davis remained in the game defensively in the top of the inning and came back up to bat in the bottom of the ninth. He hit a booming double to center field and came around to score again on a Bryce Windham single. The Cubs rallied from down 6-0 to end the game in a tie, 6-6.
Because Davis remained in the game and had success after being hit, not much was thought of him being injured. But on Thursday, the Cubs announced Davis would be sidelined from baseball activities for a few days. He is currently going through concussion protocol and will return once he is cleared.
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Another Setback For Brennen Davis
The Cubs drafted Brennen Davis in the second round of the 2018 draft. Since he first took the field, the hype surrounding him has been loud and large. At one point, Davis was the Cubs’ top prospect in the organization. By 2021, fans were dreaming of his emergence and him being part of the “next great Cubs team.”
But the last two seasons have not gone as planned for Davis. After only playing 50 games in all of 2022 due to injury, surgery in June of 2023 made him miss another half-season. He entered camp in 2024 with many questions about where his major league career was headed.
But Davis’ spring has started just about as hot as you could ask for at the plate. He is 4-7 with a .429 average, including a home run and 3 RBIs. We’ve seen a couple of errant throws in the field, but nothing out of the ordinary, as everyone is shaking some rust off at the beginning of spring training.
Missing even just a few days of camp is harmful, especially for Davis, who tries to shake the persona of being injury-prone. Of course, there was nothing he could do about this one. It’s hard to get out of the way of a ball heading right to your noggin. And he could be fine; the Cubs might be taking precautionary measures because it is so early in camp.
Davis’ Outlook For The Future
We will not see Brennen Davis starting the 2024 season on the major league roster. He will have to work his way back from his injuries to solidify his spot in AAA Iowa. The Cubs have as much depth in the outfield as anyone with more in the pipeline. This means Davis’ future may not only involve the Cubs organization.
First, Davis needs to ensure he is healthy and ready to go. If he can come back and continue to light up opposing pitching this spring, it will certainly help his case. Davis is a favorite in the clubhouse, too. So, everyone is rooting for Davis to return to his old self very soon.
