CLEVELAND -- When the Cleveland Indians went looking to add depth to their outfield ahead of the start of spring training, they proverbially knocked on the door of a player very familiar with the organization in Rajai Davis, who hit one of the most famous home runs in franchise postseason history.
Davis was more than happy to answer the call, and felt like he did not miss a beat while spending the 2017 season with the Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox.
“Honestly, it just feels right,” Davis said after the signing was made official over the weekend. “It feels like home. It feels like it was a great welcome. The guys just really welcomed me back with open arms, and gave out a lot of hugs.”
With the Indians in 2016, Davis played 66 games in left field, where over 387.1 innings, he had 83 putouts, four assists and just two errors over 89 chances for a .978 fielding percentage.
Offensively, Davis hit 23 doubles, two triples and 12 home runs with an American League-best 43 stolen bases in 495 trips to the plate during the regular season, and he belted a game-tying home run late in Game 7 of the World Series.
And because of that experience, Davis welcomes the opportunity to again work under the direction of manager Terry Francona.
“Tito knows what he’s doing,” Davis said. “He’s a leader, and when you have a team and you’re on a team, you want a leader that’s going to lead you to the ‘Promised Land,’ so to speak, and that’s winning. He knows how to win. He has all the tools, and he knows how to use the tools that he has available. I think he’s able to get the best out of players because of how he deals with the players.”
Like many other free agents this offseason, Davis waited longer than normal to sign a contract, but he put the time to good use, as he worked to maintain the type of speed that allowed him to become the top base-stealer in the American League in 2016.
“I was just focused on getting better physically, mentally and spiritually,” Davis said.
“It was definitely a longer offseason in the anticipation mainly for my family, my wife because she’s a master planner and organizer. That really drove her crazy, but for me, I was just focused on, ‘Okay, it’s going to happen. I just don’t know when’ because I knew physically, I’m capable of helping a ball club win.”
That desire to help the Indians win is exactly what Davis senses from his teammates, which is why he believes good things are in store for Cleveland in 2018.
“I can already sense the hunger and the urgency here, so I think guys really, really, really want it, and I think guys are going to be willing to do what’s necessary to win,” Davis said.
