Get out of the way… he looks mad! More likely, determined. JD Davis had to wonder how he got passed over for promotion from the Houston Astros’ Triple-A Fresno affiliate when outfielder Jake Marisnick was optioned to the Grizzlies May 15.

UPDATE: Astros Acquire 3 Lower Minor Leaguers for JD Davis, January 6, 2019

The speedy outfielder, left-hand hitting Tony Kemp was promoted, instead, the next day. At the time, Davis, a right-handed corner infielder (and erstwhile pitcher, and more recently, left fielder) was hitting .407, and a lesser player might have been tempted to take to Twitter to lodge a protest.

Displaying more than a little bit of class (and a heaping helping of restraint and patience), Davis decided to let his bat do his social media crowing, adding eight more points of “come on, now!” to his Fresno batting average, eventually getting his call, as the Astros beckoned his services Sunday.

Related: JD Davis Thinks It’s Autumn, ‘Cause He Keeps Raking

2018’s Positive Start

Davis actually broke camp on the Astros’ Opening Day roster with outfielder Derek Fisher, while Kemp and infielder Tyler White began their seasons with Fresno.

Houston manager AJ Hinch was effusive in his praise for Davis coming out of Spring Training: “Davis really performed well this spring and was arguably one of our best offensive players and earned the right to make an Opening Day roster. He swung the bat extremely well, especially against left-handed pitching.”

He stumbled out of the gate, though, batting .250 in 24 ABs, impressing few with nine strikeouts and no extra-base hits.

Forcing Houston’s Hand

But, Davis proceeded to slash a wicked .415/.473/.654 in his 130 at-bats with the Grizzlies after his demotion from the Astros in mid-April, after appearing in nine games with Houston.

Fisher was placed on the disabled list (gastrointestinal discomfort), retroactive to May 19, providing the roster opening for Davis. Fisher had only managed to muster a .176/.222/.419 line in 81 plate appearances with the Astros.

An exclamation point for Davis’ recent offensive surge may have been the cycle he achieved May 17, as he punctuated the feat with a 9th-inning homer. He reached base five times in Fresno’s 9-7 victory over El Paso.

PCL Prowess

Despite his late Pacific Coast League start (yielding about a half dozen games to every other player due to his short Houston stint starting the year), Davis led or was near the top of many PCL batting categories: He was tied for the lead in doubles, with 17, tied for third with 36 RBIs, and sixth in total bases with 85.

His .415 average, of course, led the PCL, while his OBP was second, by five percentage points, to teammate White’s .478. Davis’ 1.126 OPS was fourth in the PCL.

A former closer for Cal State Fullerton’s team in 2014 (and a sometime starter the two years previous), Davis was drafted out of Elk Grove High School in northern California by the Tampa Bay Rays (fifth round, 2011), but he attended CSF, instead.

The Astros nabbed Davis in the third round (75th overall) of the 2014 draft.

ROY Down the Line?

Davis retains his rookie status for 2018. Should he continue his pounding at Minute Maid Park, he may find himself in the mix for American League Rookie of the Year, perhaps battling it out with the Angels’ two-way Shohei Ohtani, and whomever else may emerge toward season’s end.

Full speed ahead!