Lars Davis
C, Illinois (profile)
HT: 6'3" WT: 205 lbs.
2007 Stats: 58 GP/GS, .400 BA, .461 OBP, .644 SLG, 225 AB, 55 R, 90 H, 10 2B, 3 3B, 13 HR, 56 RBI, 20 BB, 8 HBP, 32 K, 8-12 SB
Bio: Davis is a native of Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada and spent his first season playing for the Prairie Baseball Academy while attending Lethbridge College. Prior to that, the Devil Rays drafted him in 2003. After being named the 2005 "Dawg of the Year" at the PBA, he transferred to Illinois and immediately became the starting catcher. He ranked the top five for average, home runs and RBI that season.
This season he exploded on to the draft scene with his bat, not his defense. He threw out 36% of base runners in 2006 and 28.6% this year. As that link will also inform you, he was the only Big 10 player to make a Louisville Slugger AA Team. He's also into science as he was a molecular and cellular biology major.
Other Links: Canada.com article.
Commentary: Davis has a good offensive skill set that will help him through the minors and already ranks higher in offensive skill than most catchers already in the Rockies' system. Solid pick.