| Ben Davis | |
|---|---|
 Davis on July 16, 2016 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: (1977-03-10)March 10, 1977 (age 48) Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 25, 1998, for the San Diego Padres | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 2004, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .237 |
| Home runs | 38 |
| Runs batted in | 204 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Mark Christopher "Ben"Davis (born March 10, 1977), is an American former professionalbaseball player, who played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theSan Diego Padres,Seattle Mariners, andChicago White Sox, between1998 and2004. Davis began his career as a promisingcatcher, but2001 was the only season in which he played in more than half of his team's games. He was nicknamed "Big Ben", during his time with San Diego, because of his towering presence, standing 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall, weighing 195 pounds (88 kg).[1]
After returning to theMinor Leagues for several seasons, Davis converted topitching, in2008.[2] for parts of three seasons, before retiring in2011. He currently works as acolor commentator for thePhiladelphia Phillies and lives with his wife, two sons, and two daughters inWest Chester, Pennsylvania.
Davis graduated in 1995 fromMalvern Preparatory School inMalvern, Pennsylvania. As a senior, he batted .514, going 36 for 70, with six home runs, and 37 RBIs. Davis was ranked as the second-best prospect in the 1995 draft, byBaseball America; that same publication tabbed him as being the Best Defensive Catcher and the high school player closest to the majors. While at Malvern Prep, Davis also played on the basketball team, where he competed against fellowMain Line-prodigyKobe Bryant, (then) ofLower Merion High School.[3]
Davis was a first-round pick, second overall, in the1995 Major League Baseball draft, by the San Diego Padres, out of Malvern Preparatory School.USA Today called him the best high school catcher sinceDale Murphy, in1974.[4] Davis was named to thePioneer League All-Star team, in his first professional season, with the Advanced-RookieIdaho Falls Braves, in1995.
In1996, Davis was limited todesignated hitter duties, for the first month of the season, with theRancho Cucamonga Quakes, due to a sore right elbow. He threw out 25 of 98 attempted base-stealers. Davis also spent the1997 season at Rancho Cucamonga, throwing out 59 of 159 attempted base-stealers.
The Padres purchased Davis' contract from theDouble-AMobile BayBears on September 19, 1998. He made his Major League debut, as a defensive replacement, on September 25, against theArizona Diamondbacks. Davis reached on an error, in his first and only at-bat of the season. He was named to theSouthern League All-Star team, that season, his first with Mobile. Davis threw out 47 of 83 attempted base-stealers.
Davis spent the majority of the1999 season with the Padres. He started 71 of 93 games for San Diego, after being recalled, on June 23. Davis collected his first major league hit, on June 26, against theColorado Rockies, a single offMark Brownson. He posted his first career four-hit game, on September 15, against theAtlanta Braves, including a solo home run offJohn Smoltz.
Davis split the2000 season between theTriple-ALas Vegas 51s and San Diego. He began the season with the Padres, appearing in seven games, before being optioned to Las Vegas, on April 20. Davis was recalled, on July 8. He was placed on the disabled list, in August, with a strained left oblique muscle.
In a game against theArizona Diamondbacks on May 26, 2001,starting pitcherCurt Schilling took aperfect game into the eighth inning against the Padres, when, with one out and the Diamondbacks leading by a score of 2–0, Davis laid down a successfuldrag buntsingle, tosecond basemanJay Bell. After Davis reached base, many of the Diamondbacks' players shouted obscenities at him for supposedly breaking baseball'sunwritten rules. After the game, Diamondbacks managerBob Brenly called Davis's play "chickenshit".[5][6]
In December2001, Davis was traded, along withWascar Serrano andAlex Arias, to the Seattle Mariners, in exchange forBrett Tomko,Tom Lampkin, andRamón Vázquez.[1] This trade, in large, disappointed the Padres organization and fanbase, because of their continuing failures to produce "home-grown" talent. Davis was a highly regarded top prospect.[7]
Davis had a .998 fielding percentage, in 77 games behind the plate, and threw out 44 percent of would be base-stealers, in2002. He batted .300 with runners in scoring position, and was 6-for-11, with two home runs, with the bases loaded. Davis also hit .294, with six home runs, on the road, as opposed to .216, with one home run, at home. He batted .294, in the second half of the season, raising his average from .216, at the break, to .259, at the end of the season. All seven of Davis' home runs came from the left side of the plate. He hit his firstAmerican League (AL) home run, and first homer of the season, May 4, against theNew York Yankees, atYankee Stadium. Davis had a nine-game hitting streak, from May 17 to June 6, going 13-for-29, during that span. He hit his first triple of season, on August 4, against theCleveland Indians.
Davis spent his second season with the Mariners in aplatoon with fellow backstopDan Wilson, in2003. Davis appeared in 80 games, hitting .236, with six home runs, and 42 RBIs. He hit a go-ahead home run offRicardo Rincón, to lead off the 11th inning, April 3, against theOakland Athletics. Davis also tied a club record, with three doubles, on June 21, against his former team, the Padres.
On June 27, 2004, Davis was once again traded, this time from the Mariners to the Chicago White Sox withFreddy García, in exchange for catcherMiguel Olivo,Mike Morse, andJeremy Reed.
Davis appeared in just ten games with the Triple-ACharlotte Knights, before being placed on the disabled list, with a fractured finger, on his right hand. He also fought through a right elbow injury and missed the remainder of the season, after undergoingTommy John surgery. Davis had batted .242, with one home run, and three RBIs, before the injury. He was released after the season.
For the2006 season, after signing with theNew York Yankees, Davis played for theColumbus Clippers, their Triple-A affiliate and the Class-A AdvancedTampa Yankees. He went 3-for-16, with a double, home run, and two RBIs, for Tampa. Davis played in 48 games, with Columbus, hitting .222, with six doubles, four home runs, and 20 RBIs. On January 12, 2007, he was re-signed by the Yankees, and was invited to spring training.
Davis was released by the Yankees, on April 1, 2007. In May2007, he joined the independentCamden Riversharks and played well enough that he was signed to a minor league contract by theLos Angeles Dodgers, in June. Davis was assigned to their Triple-A Las Vegas 51s, the team he had previously played for when they were San Diego's affiliate. He hit .331, with six doubles, three triples, three home runs, and 19 RBIs, in 36 games with Camden and played in 36 games with Las Vegas, batting .218, with four doubles, a home run, and 11 RBIs.
In January2008, Davis was signed by theBaltimore Orioles, to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training. He did not make the team coming out of spring training and was assigned to the Double-ABowie Baysox. Davis received a mid-season promotion to the Triple-ANorfolk Tides. In 24 games with Bowie, he hit .227, with six doubles, a triple, two home runs, and 13 RBIs; with Norfolk, Davis hit .172, with two doubles, a home run, and two RBIs, in 20 games. He was released, on June 14.
After being released by Baltimore, Davis returned to the River Sharks, as a pitcher, in an attempt to make a comeback that might once again result in a Major League hitch. In November 2008, he signed a minor league contract with theCincinnati Reds, as a pitcher. Davis made his Reds' organization pitching debut on April 23, against theCharlotte Stone Crabs, tossing a scoreless inning, allowing no hits, and striking out one. He injured himself on May 17, and did not return that season. Davis' statistical totals for the2009 season included awin-loss record of 0-1, with a 3.09 ERA, and four saves, in nine games.
Davis pitched for the Camden Riversharks in2010, going 5-11, with a 4.61 ERA, and 28 game appearances, 23 of which were games started. He announced his retirement from professional baseball, on April 16, 2011.[8]
Soon after his retirement, Davis began working forNBC Sports Philadelphia (formerly Comcast Sports Network/CSN), where he began work as an analyst for the Phillies Focus show, as well asPhillies Post Game Live.[8] For the2015 season, Davis joined the Phillies' broadcast team as an in-game analyst. He works alongside play-by-play announcerTom McCarthy and at times color commentatorsJohn Kruk,Jimmy Rollins,Mike Schmidt, andRubén Amaro Jr.[9] Davis has also made regular appearances on94 WIP Sports Radio as a co-host, in various time slots.[10]
