Alex Kielar | May 25th, 2019
Logan Davidson, SS (Clemson)
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 185
Age: 21
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
2018 Stats: .292/.408/.544, 15 HR, 46 RBI, 68 SO, 43 BB
2019 Stats: .296/.414/.588, 15 HR, 55 RBI, 55 SO, 43 BB
Logan Davidson was born December 26, 1997, in Charlotte, North Carolina. His father Mark played at Clemson in 1982 and played six years in the majors for the Twins and Astros. Mark earned a World Series ring with the Twins in 1987. Logan lettered all four years at a Providence High School while being an excellent two-way star. He led Providence to a state title his junior year while being great at the plate and on the mound, and was selected as an All-American and won the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year his senior season. During this season, Davidson batted .456 with eight home runs, 16 doubles, 42 runs scored, and 47 RBI, while also boasting a 10-0 record with two saves, a 1.28 ERA, and 75 strikeouts in 61 innings on the mound. Following this season, Davidson signed with Clemson and was also drafted in the 30th round by the Philadelphia Phillies, but elected to go to Clemson.
Davidson had an outstanding freshman campaign, hitting .286 with 12 home runs, 41 RBI, 42 walks, a .388 on-base percentage, and 10 steals in 63 games. He played all of his 63 games at shortstop and had a .403 OBP against the ACC in the regular season along with 20 multi-hit games overall. He was a Clemson Regional All-Tournament selection after going 10-for-23 with a home run, double, and four RBI. This performance was good for All-ACC Freshman honors and being named first-team freshman All-American by D1Baseball and Perfect Game.
Last season, in his sophomore season, Davidson hit .292 with 60 runs scored, 18 doubles, 15 home runs, 46 RBI, and 43 walks in 63 games. He led the team in hits with 73, had a team-high six three-hit games, won one ACC Player of the Week and one national Player of the Week honors, and earned All-ACC Tournament honors while going 4-for-15 with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, and three runs in three games. Davidson also won the Mitchell Award given to Clemson’s most valuable player, set Clemson’s ACC Tournament record for RBIs in a game, and became the first Clemson player in history to homer from both sides of the plate in one inning.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPN23phRjxw&w=560&h=315]
Strengths
Davidson is tall and lanky in his 6’3 frame and being a switch hitter being able to generate raw power with his strength and power, he should be able to adjust well to tougher pitching. He uses his speed when necessary and has a lot of quickness to cover a lot of ground at short and steal some bases. Davidson should see himself develop even more raw power as he fills out his lanky frame. He has a strong arm and can reach first very easily from short, even being tall for his position. His glove is just as good as his arm, helping him be a great shortstop, making any plays in the hole and making solid throws from anywhere.
Weakness
The only real weakness to Davidson’s game is his inability thus far to hit with wood in his play in the Cape Cod League, as in two summers with wood, he has put a .570 OPS with three home runs (compared to .939 OPS and 42 home runs in two-plus seasons with metal). This is similar to former Clemson Tiger Seth Beer, who was selected in the first round by the Astros in 2018. He has some timing issues at the plate and tends to get a little too long on his swing which leads to more strikeouts, having more strikeouts than walks through his college career. If he can adjust his swing and be more disciplined at the plate, he will be fine. The more he hits with a wood bat, too, he will improve and be a good hitter with wooden bats as well.
Overview
Davidson, being a switch hitter, will be a solid asset for any team to have in their lineup, with a few adjustments he should be able to make. He has a solid work ethic but does need to work on his plate discipline and he will be a great prospect and player at the next level. Scouts view him as being the first shortstop selected in the draft if they knew he could hit with a wooden bat. Whoever takes him in the draft will be taking a risk, with his unproven ability to hit with wood bats. But if he can end up being just a solid hitter with wood as he is metal, whoever selects him will get a real hitter and winner. Davidson has all the tools needed to succeed at the next level, with some critiquing needed.
Draft Projection: Round 1 Pick 30 New York Yankees
With the question marks surrounding Davidson, I see him falling to the end of round one, with other shortstops being selected before him. Obviously, there are question marks and uncertainty with every draft prospect, but Davidson might have the most eye-opening. Davidson is a perfect fit with the Yankees in my eyes, and with Didi Gregorius approaching the end of his contract, the Yankees will be looking for more depth at shortstop. Davidson is someone they certainly could groom and help him improve to be ready in a few years. With a high ceiling and time to work with, he is definitely worth somewhat of a project.
Check out our other Draft Previews:
Andrew Vaughn | Will Wilson | Jackson Rutledge | Hunter Bishop | JJ Bleday | Kameron Misner
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