The infielder in Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly was amazed at the deke by catcher Henry Davis, who stood statuesque awaiting a relay throw from Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Davis caught it and slapped a tag on an unsuspecting Spencer Steer sliding into home plate in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Davis showed Kelly a video of him making a similar play from Triple-A Indianapolis, proof that the fake wasn’t a fluke.

“That was sick,” Kelly told TribLive. “That’s a middle infield thing, with Tommy (Pham) and Isiah getting off that relay and for him to pull off that deke — and he pulled it off so great. Henry played an all-around great game.”

It was the most complete game by Davis as a catcher in the majors. He went 2 for 2 with a walk and an RBI single for the go-ahead run. Davis also threw out Will Benson on a stolen base attempt with a 1.97-second pop time and 82.8 mph throw to end the seventh inning.

The 25-year-old Davis, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 MLB Draft, has developed from a catcher considered deficient defensively into a trusted backstop who has become Paul Skenes’ personal battery mate. After playing right field as a rookie in 2023 and starting this season in the minors, Davis is backing up Joey Bart but making a push for more playing time and forcing the Pirates to find a balance between them.

Davis credits his catching to the people around him, calling it a testament to catching coach Jordan Comadena and third base coach Mike Rabelo for his improved defense, pitching coaches Oscar Marin and Brent Strom for helping his game planning and pitch calling and even his banter with Bart on how to handle Pirates pitchers.

“It’s been great, honestly,” Davis said. “I really do love catching. I love being involved in every moment, being able to help the team no matter what. The more I work, the more I can continually help the team in any way, whether that’s on the bench and being dialed in and talking with Oscar and Joey, telling him what I’m seeing or having good energy in the dugout. Whatever I can do to help the team win, I want to focus on that.”

What has impressed Kelly is the way Davis has gone about his business. Kelly noted his aptitude to learn and prepare for games, his communication style and ability to read swings and make adjustments.

“Everything has been fascinating to watch,” Kelly said. “When we talk about guys getting to the big leagues and development doesn’t stop, this is what we’re talking about with opportunity for growth and opportunity to get better and challenging ourselves to get better. I think Henry epitomizes that.”

That Davis has behind the plate for Skenes’ starts since Endy Rodriguez injured his right index finger April 14 is telling. They formed baseball’s first 1/1 battery and combined for a memorable moment last Sunday when Skenes struck out another former No. 1 overall pick.

Skenes threw four consecutive four-seam fastballs against two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies, all at velocities of 98.9 mph or higher. Harper went down swinging at the last three, with the final pitch a 99.7 mph heater down the middle.

“Talking about really elite players,” Kelly said. “Bryce has done it for a long time. We’ve got Paul and Henry who are younger, establishing themselves and doing it. Paul is a superstar in the making, and to be able to rear back and fire three heaters that Bryce doesn’t miss too often. It shows you the electricity that Paul has and the velo behind it when he rears back and lets it rip. … (Davis is) really, really smart back there and understands that maybe we got a game plan going in, but he sees that somebody is late or not on something, he will stick with it and keep on rolling, which he did there with Bryce with the fastballs from Paul.”

Davis deflected credit for his pitch calling on that one.

“Any pitch can be the right pitch there when you’ve got Paul on the mound,” Davis said. “It definitely feels good to see him have success.”

Where Skenes had a historic rookie season, Davis hasn’t lived up to expectations. He knows he was drafted for his bat, which is a work in progress given his sporadic starts. As a rookie in 2023, he batted .213/.302/.351 with 10 doubles, seven home runs — including two in one game against Shohei Ohtani — and 24 RBIs in 62 games.

Davis was batting .182/.265/.250 following Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, when he fought a two-strike count by fouling off five in an 11-pitch battle with Freddy Peralta in the first inning.

“From a slash line perspective, I’m still a long ways off,” Davis said. “But I really do feel good about the at-bats I’ve had and continue to improve the quality of at-bats. From a sustained period of time, me trusting what I’m doing and trusting the process and continuing to get better, the slash will show itself.”

The pressure that comes with being a No. 1 overall pick could have crushed Davis. Instead, it has inspired him to work harder in a constant search to find ways to improve. Where Davis reversed the book on his defense, he’s trying to do the same as a hitter.

“He really is rising to it,” Kelly said. “Now he’s putting all that work in on the hitting side, as well. It’s really promising to see how he continues to work.”

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