Blue Wahoos Jaylin Davis Plays Entire Way In SL All-Star Game

BILOXI, Miss. -Luis Robert is only 21 years-old, but the Birmingham Barons centerfielder and Chicago White Sox top-rated prospect is already a must-see talent in minor league baseball.
He put on a show Tuesday night at the 43rd annual Southern League All-Star Game.
Robert, who received a $26 million signing bonus in 2017 when the White Sox finalized a contract with the Havana, Cuba native, had a double, triple and nearly a home run, along with two RBI, as the North Division stars beat the South Division stars 7-3 before 4,209 at MGM Park, home of the first-half divisional champ Biloxi Shuckers.
He was the easy choice for the BUSH'S All-Star MVP on a North squad which sprayed 14 hits across the ballpark.
"He looks the part. He is the part," said Jackson Generals first-year manager Blake Lalli, a former major league with three teams, who managed the North Division squad after his team won the first half division. "I mean his willingness to drive the ball the other way makes him a really tough out.
"And then if you mess up, he can do some crazy things to a baseball. I have seen him hit some really, long, long homeruns. And he'll take his hits the other way too… so he's really advanced that way."
All three Pensacola Blue Wahoos players, who were able to play in the game, saw action for the South Division all-stars. Second baseman Travis Blankenhorn and designated hitter Jaylin Davis, who batted fifth and sixth, respectively, in the starting lineup.
Davis, who is the Blue Wahoos right fielder, played the entire game and drove in the final South stars run with a ninth inning single. He also reached on a walk. Blankenhorn went 0-for-2, but did make a diving defensive stop in the second inning.
Caleb Hamilton, a non-starter, entered in the sixth inning as South team catcher and finished the game. He went 0-for-2 at the plate with two flyouts.
But the night belonged to the North stars and became Robert's showcase.
Batting third in the starting lineup, Robert doubled down the third base line in the first inning to drive in the game's first run. In the second inning, Robert factored again when the North used 10 batters and lit up Mississippi Braves pitcher Tucker Davidson, who had the league's lowest ERA in the season's first half.
Robert's two-out, run-scoring triple was part of a five-run barrage which defined the game. After Tennessee Smokies' Vimael Machin led off the inning with a single, then Jackson Generals' Jeffrey Baez, winner of Monday's home run derby popped out, the next six batters factored into the scoring.
"I'm just very happy and excited to be here in my first official all-star game here in the U.S and MILB (Minor League Baseball)," said Robert, speaking through an interpreter. "I'm very happy and content that I got the chance to be the MVP."
The North had five hits in that second inning with P.J. Higgins, Alfredo Rodriguez, Daulton Varsho, Jesus Sanchez and Robert all driving in runs. Davidson, pitching only in the second, was lifted after Sanchez drove in the fifth run of the inning.
"I was really impressed with the way guys actually grinded out at-bats in this game. They made (Davidson) work. And that's a big time arm," said Lalli, who was a three-time Southern League All-Star in consecutive years (2009-11) with the Tennessee Smokies.
"Just a really fun night for me to just sit back and watch the best players in the league," he said. "The lineup never stopped," he said. "It was one guy after another. They swung the bats, they put on a good show for the fans and it was great."
The South's only baserunner the first three innings was the Blue Wahoos' Davis, who drew a walk. Davis later drove in the game's final run with his ninth-inning single.
The first South hit was Patrick Leonard's fourth inning single, which drove home Biloxi's Trent Grisham, who walked and stole second. The South finished with just six hits against 11 North pitchers.
In the top of the fourth, Robert drove a ball deep to center that was caught by Mississippi's Christian Pache on the warning track.
Robert began the season with the White Sox' High-A Winston-Salem (N.C.) affiliate, where he batted .453 with eight homers and 24 RBI in just 19 games. With Birmingham, he's batting .338 with four homers and 20 RBI in 37 games.
"I've always enjoyed being a hard worker," Robert said. "I haven't changed too much, but the results from last year weren't there, because of (nagging) injuries and everything.
"I've been doing everything I've always done, but this year the results are there, because I've had a healthy season."
He's rated No. 15 overall among prospects by MLB.Com.
"I think it's a guy we'll all watch for a long time," Lalli said. "I don't see any reason why not. I know it was fun to watch him (Tuesday) and we're rooting for him."
After a line of pop up storms moved through the Biloxi area throughout the day Tuesday, the weather cleared and the sun was out at game-time on a perfect evening.
"That's what you want," Lalli said. "You want these guys to get a chance to showcase themselves on this night. And they got to do it. So it was perfect."
The Shuckers had nine of the South Division stars 25 players. Three pitchers were added when the Blue Wahoos three pitchers chosen, Brusdar Graterol, Griffin Jax and Ryan Mason all went on the injured list. Jax pitched into the fourth inning Sunday for the Blue Wahoos and is set to be ready for the second half.
Baez, a right-handed batter and Generals outfieler, won the Southern League Home Run Derby contest Monday night, blasting 14 balls out of MGM Park in the final round and besting teammate Jamie Westbrook.