Mariners spring training sensation is becoming a distant memory at Triple-A

As much as you theoretically shouldn't feel bad for someone who has earned in excess of $1 million despite failing to meet expectations, we're pretty much there now with Brennen Davis. Originally selected in the second round of the 2018 draft by the Chicago Cubs and at one point considered a top-rated prospect, he's suffered yet another setback in his quest to finally make it to the majors.

Blessed with a fresh opportunity in Seattle, Davis had been a pleasant surprise for Dan Wilson and the Mariners during spring training, batting .353 and crushing it with four homers and a 1.274 OPS. So there was plenty of disappointment when he began the Triple-A season on the 7-day Injured List with a hamstring strain, and since his return he just hasn't been able to get himself going again.

The 26-year-old has shown flashes of what he's capable of, most notably a four-hit game last Friday for the Rainiers in Tacoma, which included his first home run of the season. Overall though he hasn't carried over what he displayed in Cactus League play, batting .190 with just the one aforementioned home run through 14 games.

Brennen Davis isn't even doing the one thing he's always been capable of

Particularly damning is the fact Davis has gone hitless in 10 of those 14 games, while his 90.7 mph average exit velocity is more solid than good. (For some context, this is also down from 91.8 mph last season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees system.) This is quite simply not good enough for someone whose reputation has always been built on his prowess with the bat, with a career .792 OPS in the minors entering this year.

This latest adversity does take us back to early in spring training this year, when the Chandler, Arizona native was talking about how challenging his professional playing career has been up to this point. You could almost feel the pain in his words, when he said: "I never wanted to be a prospect. I wanted to be a big leaguer."

It also doesn't help that the recent 7-day stint on the IL reminded people of Davis' issues with staying healthy in recent years, with him only averaging 57 minor league games per season over the past four campaigns. Still, injuries or not, he was always going to have a tough time breaking through with the Mariners even before his rough start to this season at the plate.

Davis only plays in the corner outfield positions and the Mariners are well stocked in this area, both in terms of talent and depth. And with the 2021 All-Star Futures Game MVP now struggling to get his bat going in Triple-A, it might be time to pump the brakes on him being a guy who can help in Seattle at some point this season. (Although we'll be more than happy to be proven wrong on this.)

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