Andrew Joseph

For The Win

Chris Davis is off to a horrendous start.

The once formidable Baltimore Orioles slugger, who signed a seven-year, $161 million contract after he led the majors with 47 home runs in 2016, was repeatedly booed in front of his home crowd at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Thursday.

"It's not something I was really expecting," said Davis, who struck out in all three of his at-bats against the New York Yankees in Baltimore's home opener. "It was tough. At the same time, I heard it a lot last year, and rightfully so. I've said it before, I'll say it again: I understand the frustration. Nobody's more frustrated than I am. Especially a day like today."

Davis has not recorded a hit yet this season. He is 0-for-17 with 11 strikeouts and is one of three players who play everyday still seeking their first hit of 2019.

This year was supposed to be a rebound season for Davis. He is coming off a historic 2018 season in which he hit a career-worst .168 in 470 at-bats and posted a league-worst 37 percent strikeout rate. His power numbers fell off a cliff with just 16 home runs and a .539 OPS. The Orioles hoped that those numbers were rock bottom for a player they invested $161 million of guaranteed money in. Davis is somehow looking worse than ever in 2019 after finishing last season on an 0-for-21 skid.

In a sense, you have to feel for Davis. It's tough to watch him struggle.

For a player who has only recorded two plus-5 WAR seasons in his career, the reasonable expectation was for him to hit 30 home runs and hit maybe .250 for a few years with a ton of strikeouts. Instead, he has become the worst everyday player in baseball.

You can't blame Orioles fans for being upset.