5 Reasons Milwaukee Brewers Fans Will Love Khris Davis

5 Reasons Khris Davis Will Be a Fan Favorite

The Milwaukee Brewers have the best all-around outfield in the NL with Ryan Braun and Carlos Gomez leading the way. However, if you pay attention this spring, you’ll see another Brewers’ outfielder ready to become a favorite in his own right.

His name is Khris Davis, and the fans of Milwaukee are certain to love him.

When an organization is willing to move their best player and former MVP to a new position to make room for a new guy, you have to believe he is something special.

Davis made his presence felt during the second half of 2013 when he was given a chance to start every day in left field for the suspended Braun. The Brewers liked what they saw so much, they traded Norichika Aoki in the offseason and shifted Braun to right field, clearing a spot for Davis.

The organization has played coy with just handing Davis the starting job outright, but those two offseason moves are extremely telling. Plus, the kid has hit at every minor league level, excelled in limited time at the big league level, and destroyed the ball last spring.

During the regular season in 2013, Davis hit .279 with a .353 OBP and a .596 slugging percentage. Though his 153 plate appearances are a very small sample size, posting a .949 OPS over 56 games in MLB shouldn’t be ignored entirely, especially when complemented with his performance in the minors.

Though not the most gifted defensive player, he can track down balls better than the average left fielder and his arm isn’t as much a detriment in left as it would be playing right field. He’ll improve with time and says he loves playing defense, so expect strides in that department.

If you don’t know about him already, here are five reasons Brewers fans will love Khris Davis.

Tim Muma is a Milwaukee Brewers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @brewersblend, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

5. The Nickname - Khrush

A good nickname will endear a player to the fans and make it a part of his persona. The unique spelling of his name, coupled with the simple description of his game, make for a fun and appropriate moniker. You'll hear it more and more as the season progresses.

4. His Personality

Davis is a soft-spoken, loose and laid-back type of guy. His personality makes it easy to root for him and to watch his play do the talking. Davis carries a calmness out to the field, so he's tough to rattle and can persevere through the tough times.

3. Approach at the Plate

Though he’s served notice with a big stick, Davis is willing to work counts and earn quality at-bats, particularly with runners in scoring position. As opposed to being a free-swinger like some on the club, Davis’ approach is more similar to how Aramis Ramirez performs in the box.

Of course, if he gets a pitch to hammer, he uncoils as viciously as anyone, which is also fun to see.

2. Max Effort

Aside from pure talent, Milwaukee fans love a player who gives an all-out effort. Though not blessed defensively, Davis will crash into a wall or lay out to make the play. Even his swing is a ferocious cut in the same vein.

It's clear he pushes himself as he fought through injuries and slumps to get to Milwaukee. That perseverance, as well as his willingness to do whatever it takes to win, will thrust him further into the hearts of fans.

1. Stupid Power

As described by his former college coach, Davis owns “stupid power,” especially to the opposite field. All fans can enjoy a ball sailing 450 feet into the nether regions of the bleachers, and Davis generates explosive energy and force to launch balls deep into the night.

He's never had a slugging percentage below .470 when playing at least 40 games in a season. If he stays healthy, it's not unreasonable to expect better than 25 home runs in 2014.