The New York Yankees have made waves in their minor league system, promoting outfielder Brennen Davis to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders after a promising start with the organization. As reported by Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, Davis smashed two home runs in eight games with Double-A Somerset, earning him a shot at the next level.
A native of Chandler, Arizona, Davis was a second-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in the 2018 MLB Draft, lured away from a University of Miami commitment with a $1.1 million signing bonus. In 2019, he impressed at Single-A South Bend, slashing .305/.381/.525 with eight home runs over 204 plate appearances. This performance landed him top-100 prospect status, ranked No. 78 by MLB Pipeline, No. 92 by Baseball Prospectus, and No. 94 by Baseball America heading into 2020.
The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to COVID, but Davis roared back in 2021, batting .260/.375/.494 with 19 home runs across three levels, reaching Triple-A Iowa at age 21. That summer, he also claimed All-Star Futures Game MVP honors at Coors Field. His stock soared, with Pipeline (No. 15), Baseball America (No. 16), and Baseball Prospectus (No. 27) all placing him among the top-30 prospects before 2022.
Brennen Davis is also going to Triple-A. He’s an interesting name. The former #Cubs pick was a consensus top-100 prospect before injuries & has shown he can hit the ball hard. He had 2 HR in 8 games at Somerset. #Yankees https://t.co/FrJ8KMsoZV
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) June 3, 2025
However, injuries derailed his trajectory. A knee contusion in spring training 2022, followed by back surgery, limited Davis to 53 games, mostly at Triple-A, where he posted a .597 OPS and struck out 65 times in 214 plate appearances. The struggles continued in 2023, with core muscle surgery in June and a .201/.297/.307 slash line over 71 games. In 2024, a concussion in spring training, a back fracture in June, and a left ankle fracture in September compounded his woes.
The Cubs designated Davis for assignment in November 2024, and the Yankees signed him to a minor league deal in December. He began 2025 in the Florida Complex League, dominating with a 1.576 OPS in 21 plate appearances, earning a promotion to Double-A Somerset, where he posted an .890 OPS.
Now, Davis, a once-heralded prospect, stands one step from the majors with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Injuries have plagued him, but his talent remains undeniable. If he can stay healthy, the Yankees may have a reclamation gem vying for a spot on their 26-man roster.