Gabe Davis
Right-Handed Relief Pitcher
6´9´´
234 pounds
Age: 22
First Appearance on the South Side Sox Top 100
2025 High Level Oklahoma State University (NCAA)
Age relative to high level 0.0 years
SSS rank among all right-handed relievers in the system 12
Overall 2025 season stats (NCAA) 0-3 ⚾️ 3 SV ⚾️ 15 games (3 starts) ⚾️ 24 1/3 IP ⚾️ 5.92 ERA ⚾️ 1.808 WHIP ⚾️ 29 K ⚾️ 16 BB ⚾️ o.o WAR
The White Sox stayed true to their long-standing preference for towering power arms selecting Oklahoma State righthander Gabe Davis in the fifth round of the 2025 draft. At 6´9´´ and 234 pounds, Davis fits perfectly into the organization’s mold of XXL pitchers with big velocity and imposing downhill leverage. The tools have always been loud enough to make Davis Oklahoma State’s ace to open the 2025 season, but durability and inconsistency clouded what once looked like Friday-night starter upside.
Davis’ final season in Stillwater never fully stabilized. He missed fall practices after breaking his collarbone in an off-field accident, then spent a month sidelined by shoulder issues in the spring. When he returned, he struggled with his form and was shifted back into the bullpen after a string of uneven outings. In 2025, he logged just 24 1/3 innings, posting a 5.92 ERA, 23.2% strikeout rate, and 12.8% walk rate, continuing a collegiate career that never reached the 50-inning mark in any season.
Even so, the righthander’s stuff is extremely interesting. His fastball sits 94–97 mph and touches 100, thrown from a massive frame that naturally creates steep plane. The velocity doesn’t always overpower hitters the way the number on the scoreboard suggests, but the pitch still flashes plenty of life. Davis’ best weapon is a tight, upper-80s power slider. A pitch that can reach 92 mph and serves as a legitimate wipeout offering when he’s synced up. He can morph it into a harder cutter and mixes in an occasional mid-80s changeup with promising fade, though the change remains his least reliable pitch.
The question with Davis has never been raw ability, because that is definitely there. It’s just whether he can harness it. His long limbs can fall out of rhythm, contributing to scattered command and difficulty repeating his delivery from outing to outing. The Brian Bannister Lab should look to develop him as a relief weapon, where his fastball/slider combination could play up in short bursts. If his control tightens enough, the ingredients for a high-leverage bullpen role are clear.
Davis’ background underscores both the athleticism and volatility in his profile. A star at Choctaw High School under former OSU pitcher Shane Hawk, he threw two no-hitters as a senior and struck out 52 in 24 1/3 innings. He excelled in multiple sports, including football, wrestling, basketball, and golf. He also still has room to build more strength on his massive frame, which could unlock even greater power as a pro.
The White Sox are betting that their pitching development system can sharpen Davis’ delivery and allow his elite raw stuff to emerge more consistently. If everything clicks, Davis has the size, velocity, and two-pitch dominance to become a real bullpen force. If not, he still offers the kind of upside swing that organizations like Chicago love to take a chance on. He’s got a towering, electric arm whose tools once made him the face of a major college rotation.
Full 2026 South Side Sox Top 100 White Sox Prospects Storystream
2026 Top 100 Prospects no longer in the system
15. Peyton Pallette, RHRP (lost to Cleveland in the Rule 5 draft)
43. Ronny Hernandez, C (traded to Boston on Nov. 18, 2025)
51. Drew Dalquist, RHRP (declared free agency)
66. Andre Lipcius, 1B (declared free agency)
84. Caleb Freeman, RHRP (declared free agency)
90. DJ Gladney, RF (declared free agency)
98. Luis Pineda, C (declared free agency)
Estimated prospect ratings for players added this offseason but too late for our Top 100
23. Alexander Alberto, RHRP (Rule 5 pick from Tampa Bay)
40. Tristan Peters, OF (trade from Tampa Bay)
44. Tim Elko, 1B (re-signed as MiLB free agent)
45. Jackson Kelley, RHRP (MiLB Rule 5 pick from Texas)
87. Tanner Murray, INF (trade from Tampa Bay)