Matt Davidson

Position: 3B/1B
Born: 3/26/1991
Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 225 lb B-T: R-R
Acquired: Received from Arizona in Addison Reed trade, Dec. 2013
Career Stats

FutureSox Prospect Rankings

  • #3 – 2014 Preseason
  • #7 – 2014 Midseason
  • #12 – 2015 Preseason
  • #15 – 2015 Midseason
  • #30 – 2016 Preseason

FutureSox Media

Accolades

  • Midwest League All-Star, 2010 Midseason
  • Midwest League All-Star, 2010 Postseason
  • Southern League All-Star, 2012 Midseason
  • Southern League All-Star, 2012 Postseason
  • Pacific Coast League All-Star, 2013 Midseason
  • Futures Game, 2013 (MVP)
  • International League All-Star, 2015 Midseason
  • International League All-Star, 2016 Midseason

Scouting Report

Davidson put himself on the map with a huge 2010 as a 19-year-old in the Midwest League, posting a .289/.371/.504 line. The next three seasons, the California native averaged 20 home runs and over 30 doubles per season as he marched from High-A to Triple-A on a level-per-season basis. In addition to the power numbers, Matt also posted strong walk rates across those levels.

While his core numbers were very good in a possibly-PCL-inflated 2013, his strikeout rate (26.8%) started to be a concern. After a mixed bag in his 31 game MLB debut in late 2013 with the Diamondbacks (.768 OPS, but also 24 K in 87 PA), the White Sox traded closer Addison Reed for a player seen as the future hot corner on the South Side. But after failing to win the job in Chicago in spring training 2014, the new acquisition went on to have one of the most disappointing seasons for a Top 100 prospect in recent memory: .199/.283/.362, 30.4% K/PA in 539 PA while repeating Triple-A. He still knocked 20 long balls out of Charlotte’s new band box.

Then in 2015 he finished yet another disappointing Triple-A campaign (.203/.293/.375, 23 HR, 31.7% K/PA) in his third trip at that level. Finally in 2016, Davidson appeared to have turned a corner (.792 OPS, and a lower but still high 26.4% K/PA), and got his first call-up to the White Sox on June 30. But he broke a bone in his foot in his MLB debut and didn’t return that season.

Davidson got more of a chance with the White Sox in 2017 and 2018, but a pair of mediocre seasons with minimal defensive value didn’t do enough to hold down a roster spot. Davidson hit 23 home runs in 2018 and pitched three scoreless innings as a surprisingly effective emergency reliever.

Davidson’s defense has always been a question mark, though scouts have said he’s improved enough to stick at third. The other issue is the considerable swing-and-miss in his game. He’s been a three true outcomes hitter, but hasn’t always hit enough to make that work. With perhaps average defense, the contact issues are a serious problem.