KD is baaaaaacccckkkkk

The A’s couldn’t keep Khris Davis in the minor leagues any longer. 

KD’s hot bat, a rash of injuries and expanded September rosters created a comeback cocktail for the beloved A’s designated hitter, who returns to Oakland’s clubhouse after being traded to the Texas Rangers this past offseason. 

Davis has gone through something of an odyssey in 2021 but had been absolutely destroying the ball in his comeback attempt with the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.

Last week I spoke to Davis after a monster two-homer, one-triple game and he told me, “I got my swing back.” 

Over the past 13 games, Davis is slashing .353/.411/1.059 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 10 homers, 24 RBI, four walks and nine strikeouts. There may be some lingering doubts about his production at an MLB level, but those numbers are outright ridiculous.

Davis sure looked like the slugger of old in the three games I saw him in person, as he was driving balls to all fields with crazy power.

Now he steps in as the team’s best power threat on the right side, along with his buddy and chief recruiter Matt Chapman, who is scorching at the plate right now and had a two-dinger day Tuesday. At some point during Davis’ near two-month layoff from June 8 to Aug. 4, after he was designated for assignment by the Rangers and before he signed a minor-league deal with the As, Chapman told KD to get himself off the couch and in the batter’s box.

Now Davis can provide a jolt to the A’s offense, which has been decimated in recent weeks. It started with Ramón Laureano’s 80-game suspension, before Stephen Piscotty was sidelined with season-ending wrist surgery, Seth Brown landed on the COVID-19 injured list and Mitch Moreland was sent to the 10-day injured list with wrist soreness.

The A’s brought back Chad Pinder from injury recently and recalled Daulton Jeffries and Skye Bolt, too, meaning Davis kept moving up the pecking order. They finally had to pull the trigger on bringing back Davis Wednesday.

Davis bashed 156 homers from 2016-2019 for the A’s and led MLB with 48 dingers in 2018 before struggling during the 2020 regular season. But A’s fans will have to get used to seeing Davis in a new jersey number, as his No. 2 is taken by Starling Marte.

It all adds up. pic.twitter.com/LqENDJbTHj

— Oakland A’s (@Athletics) September 1, 2021

I suspect Davis will get DH at-bats against left-handers and a chance to prove himself at the MLB level. If all goes according to plan, he would be the go-to DH even when Moreland returns to the squad.

If Davis can come close to his previous production, it would make last season’s trade with the Rangers look that much better. In essence, the A’s traded away Jonah Heim and minor-league right-hander Dane Acker, while receiving starting shortstop Elvis Andrus, backup catcher Aramis Garcia, Davis and $13.5 million cash, which helped the A’s sign Sergio Romo, Yusmeiro Petit, Trevor Rosenthal and Moreland this past offseason.