Minor League Memories: The Matt Davidson interview (June 2011)
Making history in two leagues
Originally published June 22, 2011
For background and context into what this is, read this explainer
Visalia’s Matt Davidson is proof of the embarrassment of riches in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He’s one of two power-hitting prospects at third base on the Rawhide roster alone. As a result, Davidson and fellow slugger Bobby Borchering have been sharing duties at third and first, a necessary move to get both bats in the lineup.
The two know each other well, having also played together last year for the Class-A South Bend Silver Hawks, and Davidson enjoys having Borchering on the team with him. “It’s great competition,” Davidson said. “You bring your A-game to the field every day. It makes you work hard to be successful.”
Davidson has helped power the Rawhide offense with nine home runs and a team-high 62 RBIs, good for fourth in the California League. He had 90 RBIs in 486 at-bats between the Silver Hawks and the Rawhide a year ago.
He isn’t immune to high strikeout numbers, however, but it’s something he’s been working on all year. “As a young hitter I think I have plenty of time to learn,” said Davidson, who has 79 strikeouts in 272 plate appearances. “I focus on hitting better every day and tweaking stuff in my swing. I’m trying out different things and finding what works for me.”
Davidson is committed to staying at third base. He works diligently to improve his footwork around the bag at the hot corner by taking ground balls every day. “The best thing to do is to get reps, and I’m glad I can do that,” he said.
He has benefited from a system-wide approach to player development. “They let us go out and play and learn for ourselves,” he said of Arizona’s method. “They’re going to be out there with us. They move us fast. I can only say good things about them.”
There was a big decision to make: turn his back on a commitment to USC, or sign with the Diamondbacks after they drafted him 35th overall in the 2009 Draft. “I was set on signing,” he said. “I felt like I was ready for professional baseball. I feel like I made the right decision.”
Davidson made the commitment to Arizona instead and says he will continue working out during his All-Star Break. “I want to finish up strong,” he said.
Where are they now?
Davidson made his MLB debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks two years after this interview in 2013 and played parts of six seasons for the Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Oakland Athletics. On Dec 16, 2013, the Diamondbacks traded Davidson to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Addison Reed.
The trade put Davidson in place for his greatest MLB success. In 2017 and 2018 Davidson had over 400 at-bats in each season and hit over 20 home runs with 60 RBIs both years. He made history a few times with the White Sox. On Opening Day 2018 against the Kansas City Royals Davidson hit three home runs, becoming the fourth player in Major League Baseball history to hit three home runs in a game on Opening Day. Just this week, Luis Robert, Jr. hit a home run in his fourth straight game — Davidson was the last White Sox player to hit such a streak on June 12–15, 2017.
In his two seasons with the White Sox Davidson also was active in community outreach, hosting and participating in youth baseball clinics in Chicago and his hometown of Yucaipa, Calif. In 2018 he invited a handful of White Sox teammates to coach at his annual Best Buddies clinic.
He played in 13 games in 2022 between Oakland and Arizona before signing with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). In his second NPB game he hit a home run, becoming the first non-Japanese player for the Carp to hit a home run as his first NPB hit since Xavier Batista in 2017.
Davidson’s home run on April 28 hit a Kirin Beer billboard above the left field seats at the Tokyo Dome, earning him one million Japanese yen and one year worth of Kirin Beer, which he said he would share with his teammates.
He has six home runs and 24 hits in 120 at-bats this year for the Carp. One of those home runs is what got me interested in revisiting this interview sooner than others — Davidson teeing off on perennial asshat Trevor Bauer.
Extremely long story short, Bauer got a two-year suspension for being a rapist and abuser and fucked off to Japan this season. He has an 8.40 ERA in three games for the Yokohama Bay Stars. Enjoy watching NPB batters hit bombs against him.
So when I heard about Matt Davidson homering off Bauer I had a good laugh and I knew it was the right time to write about him again. And as I researched the Where Are They Now? section, Luis Robert, Jr.’s home run streak made the case even stronger.
Stupid joke alert
A blurb about Modesto first baseman Mike Zuanich titled Huge Power. He was hitting .366 through mid-June 2011 and had three home runs and five RBIs in one week. Huge Power is an ability in Pokemon that’s most often associated with the Marill evolution line.
There, now you know I’m a massive Pokemon nerd.
Next week
Another unexpected White Sox connection. I swear it’s not because I chose to support them this year. These things just happen.
