Chase Davis is one of the most feared lefthanded hitters in the high school class of 2020. On August 11, the Elk Grove, Calif. native will bring his thunderous bat and big-time arm down to Petco Park for the Perfect Game All-American Classic.
The 6-foot-1, 211-pound, silky smooth outfielder has been lauded for his plus tools across the board. Davis has been working his entire life to reach this stage, and while his talent is uncommon, his introduction to the game has humble roots.
“I remember I was four years old and I had this plastic bat,” he said. “My dad was pitching me Wiffle balls and I kept hitting them hard. This was all from the left side, and my dad was like ‘Should I move him to the right side?’ But ultimately he didn’t, and that’s why I’m a lefthanded hitter.”
Davis has been on the scouting scene for quite some time, but he says things really started to take off when he was in the eight grade. This was when he realized he had the talent to make a career out of baseball, and it is when he really began to dedicate himself to his craft.
“When I was 13, I remember having a really good tournament,” he said. “A couple colleges were there, and one already wanted to talk to me. I was thinking ‘Wow, I’m already getting looked at.’ That motivated me even more. I just wanted to get better and better, get stronger, and pick the brain of all the professional coaches that I had. It all kicked off from there.”
He would go on to receive a slew of offers, but the California kid chose to stay on the West Coast for college, committing to the University of Arizona. The Wildcats have made 17 trips to the College World Series, including four national championships, the most recent coming in 2012. Jay Johnson’s program is one of the blue bloods in college baseball, and Davis is ecstatic to be a part of the family.
“I loved everything about the school,” he said. The campus. The food. The environment. The weather. Everything. It just felt like home, and that’s how I knew I was making the right choice.”
Davis is ranked No. 11 overall in Perfect Game’s high school class of 2020. Earlier this summer, he attended the National Showcase in Phoenix, Ariz. The event featured the very best young talent in the country, but Davis might as well have made it his own personal clinic. He threw 99 mph from the outfield, and dazzled with the bat all week.
Davis is undeniably toolsy, but he’s also a complete baseball player. He clocked a 6.91 60-yard dash time and registered a 4.25 home-to-first. In his own words, Davis believes he is the total package.
“I can run well, and I have a good glove in the outfield,” he said. “But I think my favorite part of my game is that I can drive the ball to the opposite field.”
For his efforts, he was named to the top prospect team and was selected to play in the PG All-American Classic. If you are chosen for this game, you are certainly on the fast track to achieving your baseball dreams. Former participants of the Classic include Bryce Harper, Buster Posey, Andrew McCutchen and Francisco Lindor.
Davis says this is the most meaningful part of being named an All-American. The honor gives him the motivation to know that he can play with anyone, and that one day it will be him patrolling the outfield for a major league club.
“It’s a blessing,” he said of the selection. “I see all the alumni of this game and how they’re doing so well at the next level, and that drives me. It gives me confidence that I can do what they’re doing. It’s a big recognition, and I can’t wait to get out there and be with the guys.”
Davis analyzes a lot of different players across the MLB, but he says one of the game’s all time greats is his chief source of inspiration.
“Ken Griffey Jr.” he said is his biggest baseball influence. “I get to see him at one of the camps I go to every summer. Obviously, his resume is off the charts, but more importantly he’s a great person. I love his swing, his swag, his glove. He dominated his position.”
With the 2019 draft safely behind us, Davis knows this is his time. But he’s not putting added pressure on himself. He recognizes his senior year of high school is special. He’s going to relish one final season hometown friends and soak in the draft process with his family.
“I want to do well in the All-American game,” he said. “I want to put up numbers, but also enjoy my time with all my teammates because it’s going to be the last time I get to play with them.”