Rule-5 pick Dan Davidson (.259-2-17) was an unexpected late-Spring addition to the 2062 ML Kernels. That is to say, he was a December Rule 5 pick that stuck. He stuck and stayed. Davidson (5/6/5 with 6 GAP, 8 AVK), has started 31 games, 28 behind the plate. He's a decent fielder at 1b/3b/rf as well. So, as JR's philosophy is "play them if you want them to develop," Davidson will share starting first-base duties the last 27 games of the regular season with rookie 1b-2b Carl McLeod. Originally, Pablo Gonzáles (AAA, .319-17-72) had been pegged for a catcher spot on the 2062 ML roster, and local Des Moines favorite Cecil Clarke (ATC, 1.4 WAR) was outright dropped.
The left-swinging Davidson is expected to bat as high as 2nd in the lineup versus right-handed starters and will tentatively drop to 7th versus southpaw starters. He will keep his job as backup to starting catcher Matsunaga. Terry Pitzer, 2061 draft, waits in the wings, currently Double-A, as he is earmarked a spot in the 40-man and most likely the 27-man, when he's ready. Pitzer (6/7/4) is a switch hitter, as is Matsu, and the two should work well together. Pitzer is probably the best fielder of the three.