Tucker Davidson, a left-handed pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, has chosen to become a free agent after being designated for assignment at the end of the regular season. Rather than accepting a minor league assignment to Triple-A Norfolk, Davidson opted to explore other opportunities.
A former top prospect for the Atlanta Braves, Davidson has bounced around to teams like the Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City Royals before joining the Orioles for the 2024 season. In the majors this year, he pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two walks and striking out just one batter. Most of his season, however, was spent in Triple-A Norfolk, where he posted a 3.89 ERA across 115 2/3 innings. His performance included a 20.7% strikeout rate, a 9.1% walk rate, and a 45.7% ground-ball rate.
Davidson, 28, split his time between starting and relieving for Norfolk. As a starter, he logged a 4.48 ERA with an 18.5% strikeout rate. However, he was far more effective as a reliever, posting a 2.45 ERA with a 23% strikeout rate in 44 innings of relief. Opponents hit .266 against him as a starter, but just .195 when he came out of the bullpen.
Davidson will turn 29 in March and has a career 5.76 ERA over 129 2/3 major league innings. While his overall track record isn’t particularly impressive, his strong work as a reliever this season and the adjustments made to his pitch mix offer some promise. The Orioles had him reduce his reliance on his four-seam fastball and slider, incorporating more sinkers and splitters into his repertoire.
Although Davidson will likely seek a minor league deal this offseason, his improved numbers in Triple-A and revamped pitch mix could make him an appealing option for teams looking to add both rotation and bullpen depth.
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