Lucas Davenport is a must-follow prep pitching prospect from Texas. The Prosper High School right-handed pitcher offers intriguing size and intangibles on the mound.
Davenport’s 6-foot-6, 215-pound frame cause scouts to dream about his potential. They also like the promise of his three-pitch mix. This spring, Davenport is drawing interest in preparation for July’s MLB draft.
Although Davenport is a Texas A&M commit, he likely will have a chance to turn pro this summer. Scouts project Davenport as a potential top-five-round pick in this year’s draft.
“It’s cool and all, but it is the same game,” Davenport said. “As I talk to people, everyone says I don’t have a bad option. I am just going to go out there and play baseball. If I happen to get drafted, I get drafted. And if not, I go to Texas A&M where I will get a great education.”
Davenport throws a two-seam fastball, changeup and slider from a three-quarters arm slot. He uses a long arm action that plays a role in his deceptive delivery.
His two-seamer is his best pitch. He has a four-seam fastball in his repertoire but mostly uses the two-seamer due to its movement. This spring, Davenport’s fastball has experienced an uptick in velocity, sitting 93-94 mph and touching 95 mph.
Davenport’s changeup is a quality offering, drawing above-average grades from some scouts. He has a notable feel for the pitch, and it features quality late movement, making it difficult for hitters to pick up.
Davenport worked with his pitching coach John Patterson, who pitched for six years in the major league, on his slider in the offseason. Davenport changed his slider grip to develop a tighter breaking pitch instead of the loopy slider he previously threw. His slider now resembles the look of a cutter.
“My confidence is what really pushes me as a pitcher,” Davenport said. “I feel like I have always had the confidence on the mound no matter what happens.”
Davenport has a quality three-pitch mix and displays the potential to start in the professional ranks. He wants to improve the command of his pitches and throw strikes at a higher percentage.
“I would like to keep my slider progressing and continue working on my command so I can hit every spot I want,” Davenport said.
Davenport is in a win-win situation regarding the next step in his career. Besides pro ball, Davenport also has the option to attend Texas A&M.
He committed to Texas A&M under the previous coaching staff on Feb. 10, 2020. After Texas A&M didn’t renew the contract of head coach Rob Childress, a well-regarded pitching coach, the program hired Jim Schlossnagle. He brought in renowned pitching coach Nate Yeskie.
The hiring of Yeskie stood out to Davenport, who has dreamed of playing at Texas A&M since he was young. If he attends Texas A&M, Davenport believes Yeskie will prepare him well for pro ball.
“My dad went there, so you can go back to things I wrote in kindergarten that I wanted to go to Texas A&M,” Davenport said. “I really liked all the coaches there, and when coach Schlossnagle came in, I was waiting to see who they hired as the pitching coach. When they hired Yeskie, I was excited because he’s one of the best pitching coaches in the country.”
Read more in-depth stories on top 2022 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Do you enjoy reading Baseball Prospect Journal’s draft content? Become a Patron!
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for seven years. He has interviewed 356 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com and The Arizona Republic, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
