Mt. Lebanon's Ian Happ has unique perspective on challenges of Henry Davis' MLB promotion with Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Henry Davis is a former No. 1 overall draft pick in his first series as a Major League Baseball player. He’s doing so while learning a new position and while his team is in the throes of a seven-game losing streak.

It’s not easy. Even though Davis made it look that way in his first at-bat as he roped a double down the left-field line against the Chicago Cubs Monday night.

FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE HIT FOR HENRY DAVIS! pic.twitter.com/h9D5JUXJqL

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 20, 2023

One person who can relate happened to be on the other team. Mt. Lebanon High School alum Ian Happ is now in his seventh year with the Cubs. The 2022 National League All-Star was also a top-10 draft choice, selected ninth overall in 2015.

Like Davis, when Happ broke into the big leagues, he was bounced all over the diamond. During his first two seasons, Happ played all three outfield spots and every infield position except shortstop.

Speaking before the Cubs’ 8-0 win over the Pirates Monday, Happ said the best thing that Davis can do is be willing to seek the advice of veteran players who have had to play multiple positions.

“It’s definitely a challenge,” Happ said. “I think the biggest thing is talking to guys who have done it. Talking to guys who have experience at all those different spots. I had Ben Zobrist (as a teammate) when I came up. So he was a nice guy to be able to kind of bounce (off) how to go from infield to outfield. What to think about. What to look for. And the game is so much faster at this level, and it’s so much different than anywhere you’ve played before. So talk to those guys with experience and figure out what that takes.”

Zobrist had 794 starts at second base and 494 starts between all three outfield positions. He also appeared in 236 games at shortstop, 27 games at first base and eight games at third base.

Davis’ menu probably won’t be that dense. He’ll likely just jump between right field, catcher and designated hitter.

Related:

• Tim Benz: When it comes to onus of being a No. 1 pick, Pirates say Henry Davis will 'own it and wear it with pride'
• Henry Davis' debut double not enough in Pirates' 8-0 loss to Cubs
• Fire drill: Henry Davis' family, friends scramble to see Pirates rookie make his MLB debut
• Promotion to Pirates comes at a new position for Henry Davis, who gets start in right field
• Henry Davis is a Pirate only 2 seasons after he was drafted in 1st round, but Gerrit Cole beat him by 8 days
• After stranding runners, Pirates searching for spark on offense amid 7-game losing streak

Happ says being able to DH (a luxury he didn’t have as a National League player until 2022) should be a big asset to Davis. It’ll allow him to have certain games where he can just worry about doing what he does best — hitting — while working on his catching and outfield skills on the side.

“That’s a big difference,” Happ said. “In the National League, you were coming off the bench to pinch hit in a spot. You were getting double-switched in and out. And that was really different, especially when you come up as a highly drafted guy. You play every day, and you get your five at-bats every single day. No one’s coming in for you. At this level, that’s different. We’re trying to win ball games every single day. So there might be times when you would get double-switched or get pinch hit for.”

If Davis is looking for a Zobrist-esque mentor like Happ had in the Pirates dugout, Cubs manager (and former Pirates catcher) David Ross suggested he consult Carlos Santana.

“He came up as a catcher and moved to first, DHed a little bit. So that’s somebody he can really lean on,” Ross said Monday. “To have those veteran guys that you can talk to and help you along your way, and develop your career, and know what it’s like to come up and play some different positions is always really important. Veteran leadership and veteran knowledge and experiences in our game are so important.”

Thirty-year-old Connor Joe is another guy who has played right field and first base so far this year and may be able to aid Davis along the way if he needs it. But Happ expects that Davis will get over the inexperience of moving positions and doing it on a big-league level fast enough.

“For the first time going to new cities and new ballparks, that doesn’t end for a while,” Happ cautioned. “But you’re just playing baseball. I think that’s the biggest thing. Know that you’re going to get your first hit out of the way. You’ll feel like you can compete at this level, and once you get there, it’s just kind of getting used to it.”

At least for Davis, he ended up checking that box just a few hours later.