Tucker Davidson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #13 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Davidson became the first Midland (Texas) JC draftee to make the majors when he debuted in 2020, and he threw 20 innings in 2021 before a forearm strain sidelined him for most of the season. Davidson did come back for the postseason and made a spot start in game five of the World Series, though he allowed four runs in two innings.
  
  Scouting Report: While healthy, Davidson showed a better ability to attack the strike zone at the major league level this year. Establishing his 93 mph fastball allowed his secondary stuff to play up. It’s a low-spin fastball, but Davidson pairs that with a firm slider in the upper 80s. The slider is now his go-to breaking ball, with above-average potential and his curveball features solid vertical depth that could give him a third average offering. He largely scrapped a mid-80s changeup (1% usage) in 2021 and the pitch is a distant fourth offering compared to his fastball and breaking pitches. Previously, Davidson’s control has led opposing scouts to view him as a reliever, but the Braves have stuck with him as a starter and he looked to take a step forward in his control this year, albeit in a brief sample.
  
  The Future: Davidson’s playoff start suggests the Braves trust him, and he should be back in the mix for the team’s pitching plans in 2022.
  
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #10 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
  Track Record: An unheralded 19th-round pick, Davidson steadily climbed the minors one level at a time until a breakthrough 2019, when he logged a 2.15 ERA in 25 starts between Double-A and Triple-A. He began 2020 at the alternate training site and earned his first big league callup on Sept. 26, when he pitched 1.2 innings of relief against the Red Sox.
  
  Scouting Report: Davidson became more efficient in his delivery in 2020, implementing his lower half more effectively to help him hold his top-end velocity. His fastball sits around 92 mph and has been up to 97, and his development should help him maintain an above-average fastball. Formerly a fastball/curveball pitcher, Davidson added a slider to his repertoire and it now looks like his best breaking ball, with above-average potential in the mid-to-upper 80s. Davidson’s curveball has above-average vertical depth and could be an average pitch if he can land it consistently. Davidson throws a changeup, but it’s his fourth-best offering. He walked four batters in 1.2 innings in his big league debut, and his walk rate has been a tick below-average in his minor league career.
  
  The Future: Questions about Davidson’s durability and control lead opposing scouts to believe he profiles as a reliever in the majors. The Braves haven’t given up on him as a starter.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #10 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: After taking a step back in 2018, Davidson had something of a breakout year in 2019. A 19th-round junior college pick, he took major strides forward with his pitching ability in 2019 and finished the season at Triple-A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Davidson's arsenal is led by two plus offerings—a fastball up to 97 mph and a 12-to-6 curveball. After struggling with his fastball control a season ago, Davidson impressed scouts with the pitchability that he showed in 2019. He tended to get into two-strike counts and then nibble around the zone rather than going after hitters, and he's a control-over-command arm. Davidson has an average changeup that should give him every opportunity to start, though there's some effort in his delivery and he pitches exclusively out of the stretch, which leads some scouts to believe he's a reliever.
  
  THE FUTURE: Davidson was added to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He will likely begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett, but could make his big league debut later in 2020.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #21 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Davidson was one of the Braves' biggest breakout prospects in 2017, but in 2018 his control took two steps backward. His attempts to fix the problems didn't pay off until late in the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Davidson's fastball lacked the high-end pop it showed at times in 2017, when he touched 95-97 mph in shorter stints. More often in 2018 he was 91-94, but that is still plenty of fastball if he can locate it like he did in 2017. Davidson's control and command of his fastball backed up, which left him too often behind in counts. His 12-to-6 curveball is a potentially plus weapon, but he didn't rely on it enough, as he wasn't comfortable enough to throw it for strikes when behind in counts. Similarly, he tried to muscle up with a fastball at times when his average changeup would have likely been more effective.
  
  The Future: Davidson took a step back, but he still has the three-pitch arsenal that gives him a chance to start. His delivery has some effort, leading some scouts to believe he'll eventually be a power reliever.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #13 prospect in 2018
  No player drafted out of Midland (Texas) JC ever has made the majors, but Davidson has a chance to become the first. He has proven to be an impressive scouting find. Expected to be a useful organization reliever, Davidson showed up in 2017 in better shape than he'd been in his draft year, and his fastball took a step forward. After he blew 95-97 mph fastballs by Asheville hitters in a three-inning relief outing in June, the Braves decided to see how he handled starting. He survived an awful rotation debut, where he allowed seven unearned runs in 1.2 innings, to allow two runs or less in nine of his remaining 11 starts. As a starter, Davidson maintained a 90-95 mph fastball that earns plus grades thanks to its excellent finish. He also flashes a plus curveball and changeup. He has less track record, but Davidson's pure stuff is better than that of Joey Wentz or Kyle Muller. On the other hand, Davidson has more effort to his delivery and is not as fluid an athlete, leading some scouts to expect he'll eventually return to the bullpen. He's ready to head to high Class A Florida.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Davidson became the first Midland (Texas) JC draftee to make the majors when he debuted in 2020, and he threw 20 innings in 2021 before a forearm strain sidelined him for most of the season. Davidson did come back for the postseason and made a spot start in game five of the World Series, though he allowed four runs in two innings.
  
  Scouting Report: While healthy, Davidson showed a better ability to attack the strike zone at the major league level this year. Establishing his 93 mph fastball allowed his secondary stuff to play up. It&#39s a low-spin fastball, but Davidson pairs that with a firm slider in the upper 80s. The slider is now his go-to breaking ball, with above-average potential and his curveball features solid vertical depth that could give him a third average offering. He largely scrapped a mid-80s changeup (1% usage) in 2021 and the pitch is a distant fourth offering compared to his fastball and breaking pitches. Previously, Davidson&#39s control has led opposing scouts to view him as a reliever, but the Braves have stuck with him as a starter and he looked to take a step forward in his control this year, albeit in a brief sample.
  
  The Future: Davidson&#39s playoff start suggests the Braves trust him, and he should be back in the mix for the team&#39s pitching plans in 2022.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 40. Control: 50.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Davidson became the first Midland (Texas) JC draftee to make the majors when he debuted in 2020, and he threw 20 innings in 2021 before a forearm strain sidelined him for most of the season. Davidson did come back for the postseason and made a spot start in game five of the World Series, though he allowed four runs in two innings.
  
  Scouting Report: While healthy, Davidson showed a better ability to attack the strike zone at the major league level this year. Establishing his 93 mph fastball allowed his secondary stuff to play up. It’s a low-spin fastball, but Davidson pairs that with a firm slider in the upper 80s. The slider is now his go-to breaking ball, with above-average potential and his curveball features solid vertical depth that could give him a third average offering. He largely scrapped a mid-80s changeup (1% usage) in 2021 and the pitch is a distant fourth offering compared to his fastball and breaking pitches. Previously, Davidson’s control has led opposing scouts to view him as a reliever, but the Braves have stuck with him as a starter and he looked to take a step forward in his control this year, albeit in a brief sample.
  
  The Future: Davidson’s playoff start suggests the Braves trust him, and he should be back in the mix for the team’s pitching plans in 2022.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
  Track Record: An unheralded 19th-round pick, Davidson steadily climbed the minors one level at a time until a breakthrough 2019, when he logged a 2.15 ERA in 25 starts between Double-A and Triple-A. He began 2020 at the alternate training site and earned his first big league callup on Sept. 26, when he pitched 1.2 innings of relief against the Red Sox.
  
  Scouting Report: Davidson became more efficient in his delivery in 2020, implementing his lower half more effectively to help him hold his top-end velocity. His fastball sits around 92 mph and has been up to 97, and his development should help him maintain an above-average fastball. Formerly a fastball/curveball pitcher, Davidson added a slider to his repertoire and it now looks like his best breaking ball, with above-average potential in the mid-to-upper 80s. Davidson's curveball has above-average vertical depth and could be an average pitch if he can land it consistently. Davidson throws a changeup, but it's his fourth-best offering. He walked four batters in 1.2 innings in his big league debut, and his walk rate has been a tick below-average in his minor league career.
  
  The Future: Questions about Davidson's durability and control lead opposing scouts to believe he profiles as a reliever in the majors. The Braves haven't given up on him as a starter.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
  Track Record: An unheralded 19th-round pick, Davidson steadily climbed the minors one level at a time until a breakthrough 2019, when he logged a 2.15 ERA in 25 starts between Double-A and Triple-A. He began 2020 at the alternate training site and earned his first big league callup on Sept. 26, when he pitched 1.2 innings of relief against the Red Sox.
  
  Scouting Report: Davidson became more efficient in his delivery in 2020, implementing his lower half more effectively to help him hold his top-end velocity. His fastball sits around 92 mph and has been up to 97, and his development should help him maintain an above-average fastball. Formerly a fastball/curveball pitcher, Davidson added a slider to his repertoire and it now looks like his best breaking ball, with above-average potential in the mid-to-upper 80s. Davidson’s curveball has above-average vertical depth and could be an average pitch if he can land it consistently. Davidson throws a changeup, but it’s his fourth-best offering. He walked four batters in 1.2 innings in his big league debut, and his walk rate has been a tick below-average in his minor league career.
  
  The Future: Questions about Davidson’s durability and control lead opposing scouts to believe he profiles as a reliever in the majors. The Braves haven’t given up on him as a starter.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
  Track Record: An unheralded 19th-round pick, Davidson steadily climbed the minors one level at a time until a breakthrough 2019, when he logged a 2.15 ERA in 25 starts between Double-A and Triple-A. He began 2020 at the alternate training site and earned his first big league callup on Sept. 26, when he pitched 1.2 innings of relief against the Red Sox.
  
  Scouting Report: Davidson became more efficient in his delivery in 2020, implementing his lower half more effectively to help him hold his top-end velocity. His fastball sits around 92 mph and has been up to 97, and his development should help him maintain an above-average fastball. Formerly a fastball/curveball pitcher, Davidson added a slider to his repertoire and it now looks like his best breaking ball, with above-average potential in the mid-to-upper 80s. Davidson’s curveball has above-average vertical depth and could be an average pitch if he can land it consistently. Davidson throws a changeup, but it’s his fourth-best offering. He walked four batters in 1.2 innings in his big league debut, and his walk rate has been a tick below-average in his minor league career.
  
  The Future: Questions about Davidson’s durability and control lead opposing scouts to believe he profiles as a reliever in the majors. The Braves haven’t given up on him as a starter.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: After taking a step back in 2018, Davidson had something of a breakout year in 2019. A 19th-round junior college pick, he took major strides forward with his pitching ability in 2019 and finished the season at Triple-A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Davidson’s arsenal is led by two plus offerings—a fastball up to 97 mph and a 12-to-6 curveball. After struggling with his fastball control a season ago, Davidson impressed scouts with the pitchability that he showed in 2019. He tended to get into two-strike counts and then nibble around the zone rather than going after hitters, and he’s a control-over-command arm. Davidson has an average changeup that should give him every opportunity to start, though there’s some effort in his delivery and he pitches exclusively out of the stretch, which leads some scouts to believe he’s a reliever.
  
  THE FUTURE: Davidson was added to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He will likely begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett, but could make his big league debut later in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: After taking a step back in 2018, Davidson had something of a breakout year in 2019. A 19th-round junior college pick, he took major strides forward with his pitching ability in 2019 and finished the season at Triple-A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Davidson's arsenal is led by two plus offerings—a fastball up to 97 mph and a 12-to-6 curveball. After struggling with his fastball control a season ago, Davidson impressed scouts with the pitchability that he showed in 2019. He tended to get into two-strike counts and then nibble around the zone rather than going after hitters, and he's a control-over-command arm. Davidson has an average changeup that should give him every opportunity to start, though there's some effort in his delivery and he pitches exclusively out of the stretch, which leads some scouts to believe he's a reliever.
  
  THE FUTURE: Davidson was added to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He will likely begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett, but could make his big league debut later in 2020.