PORT ST. LUCIE — When J.D. Davis looks back on his knowledge of the 2017 Astros’ cheating to win a World Series, two words come to mind: regret and shame.
Davis played 24 games for Houston in his rookie year for the club. On Friday, he admitted he was aware of the Astros illegally using technology to steal signs, which contradicts his previous statement from December — when he was first asked about his knowledge of the scheme.
“I spoke prematurely and I was aware of it,” Davis said. “Whoever gets crowned World Series champion has to earn it. It’s unfair to the peers, it’s unfair to the fans, it’s unfair to you guys, the writers, as well.
“It’s terrible for baseball. Baseball took a couple steps backwards because of these events and the investigation applied to it,” he said.
Former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers went on the record with The Athletic and revealed Houston’s cheating practice in November.
MLB completed its investigation of the Astros in January and commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed they used a center field camera to relay the opposing pitcher’s signs to members of the team in the dugout, who then banged on trash cans to transmit off-speed pitches to Houston batters at the plate.
Davis, then-24 years old, said he was starstruck being in a big-league clubhouse around veteran players. Maybe, he thought at the time, “what they did was the norm.” Davis said because he had never been in another big league clubhouse, he could not “compare the two.”
“Everybody that’s part of the 2017 Astros, they feel regrettable about that decision,” Davis said. “Looking back, as a young guy being exposed to that in 2017 and looking back now and getting a full season under my belt, of course it’s regrettable and you feel ashamed to be part of it.”
Davis said he has a ring from that 2017 championship year, which he’s probably worn once or twice. When Davis was asked whether he was just aware of the banging scheme or part of it, he said “I was aware of it and again, I was a guy who was going up and down the system. I was starstruck.”
Outfielder Jake Marisnick and Davis are the only two former 2017 Astros who are currently on the Mets’ big league roster.
Davis said he does not know whether the Astros would have won the championship that year without their illegal use of technology to cheat.
“We were a pretty talented team. That’s a pretty big ‘if’ question,” Davis said. “I really don’t know. Their up and down the lineup is pretty good and their pitching staff at that time was incredible.”
On Thursday, Astros players spoke openly about the 2017 scandal — including Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Justin Verlander, Alex Bregman and Houston owner Jim Crane. Davis said he watched some of those reactions and one former teammate in particular stood out to him.
“Credit to Carlos Correa, coming out and owning it,” Davis said. “I love that about him. Carlos was one of those guys in the clubhouse that was a straight up guy and one of those guys who took me under his wing when I went up there.”
Former Astros GM Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch received one-year suspensions from the league for their involvement in the “entirely player-driven scheme.” Crane subsequently fired both Luhnow and Hinch. Carlos Beltran was the only 2017 Astros player named in the commissioner’s report and he was dismissed from his job as Mets manager a few days later. Players were given immunity from punishment in order for their cooperation with the investigation.
Davis enjoyed a breakout 2019 season during his first year with the Mets. He said he is now trying to learn from his failures and successes and apply it to the 2020 season.
“It was 2-3 years ago. I’m with the Mets this year, I’m ready to turn the page,” Davis said.
