By Don Leypoldt

Photo credit Cal State Fullerton Sports Information

The mission of the NECBL is to improve talented college baseball players while giving them a special experience away from home.  Few embody that mission better than Milwaukee Brewer infielder Blake Davis.

Davis suited up for the North Adams SteepleCats in the summer of 2003.  The freshman from Cal State Fullerton was facing multiple adjustments when he arrived in the Berkshires.  Not only was he shaking the rust off of a redshirt year but Davis, a So Cal native who grew up 20 minutes from the Fullerton campus, was also adapting to living 3,000 miles from home in a very different environment from Orange County.

But Davis handled both the on and off the field adjustments with aplomb.  He was a contact machine, finishing the summer as the fourth toughest batter in the NECBL to fan.  Off the field, Davis still keeps in regular touch with host Dad and League President John DeRosa.

Davis spent seven seasons in the Orioles’ organization.  He was Baltimore’s fourth round pick in 2006 and he debuted with Baltimore in 2011, where he hit .254 with five extra base hits in 25 games.  The Triple-A International League’s Player of the Week last August 12^th, Davis now hopes to ride that momentum to get back to the Big Leagues- this time as a Brewer.

He recently took time to field our questions:

NECBL.com What stands out about your summer in North Adams?

Davis: “Just being up in that part of the country.  It was my first real time away from home.  It was a small town and I remember there were a lot of trees and hills in that area.  And the baseball, I remember getting used to playing every day in the summer time.  Playing with and getting to know people from different parts of the country was fun.” 

NECBL.com: Was New England a big adjustment for you?

BD: “I had played in the Connie Mack World Series the year before, so I guess you could say I was used to being away, but it was definitely a different experience being away from home for that long.  Being in college my first year did prepare me for going on road trips.”

NECBL.com: Fullerton redshirted you as a freshman.  What made you decide to stay with the Titans and play as opposed to going somewhere where you could have played right away? 

BD: “I felt like I could play right away and I was kind of surprised when they redshirted me.  I didn’t like it too much and you could say I had a chip on my shoulder.  At every practice that year, I tried to stand out and keep up with their starters and try to put it back in there face a little bit that they made a mistake.  But all I could do is stay positive and put in the work that year because once I got the chance to play, I knew it would be fine.  I also got a full year’s school in when I was a freshman.”

NEBCL.com: Fullerton won the College World Series when you were a sophomore and returned when you were a senior.  What stands out about Omaha?

BD: “The whole environment and that big crowd.  At Fullerton, we try to go to big time places so when we get to Omaha it’s like we’ve already been there and it’s not a big deal.  But it’s the environment and the excitement.  Everybody is there to see you and it’s just a good, fun exciting time.”

NECBL.com: You played with Team USA in 2005.  How did you get involved with them?

BD: “Team USA gave me an invite and I went out to their camp.  They said to just come.  I hadn’t done much in my second year (at Fullerton) but they needed a good defensive shortstop and I think that’s where they were going with that.  That may have given me an edge over other people.  We went to Japan and Taiwan.  We came back here and played Italy and a few other teams.  We played the NECBL in a couple of games before we headed out to Japan.”

NECBL.com: The Indians drafted you after your junior year in college.  Was it a hard choice to not sign with Cleveland and return to school?

BD: “Not at all.  They took me in the 46^th round and they didn’t even make me an offer.  It never even got to a point where I had to make a decision.”

NECBL.com: Blake, you were a shortstop in college, a second baseman in the Big Leagues and you played a lot of outfield last year.  How difficult are the switches?

BD: “Outfield…was kind of fun.  I came up as a shortstop and can still play that pretty well.  It’s based on circumstances on what I had to do to get in the line up, whether it’s play short, second, third or in the outfield, where I was doing pretty well.  I would go out for batting practice and just get used to seeing the ball come off the bat out in right field, or playing second base.  Second base was kind of a difficult adjustment for me.  Outfield kind of came naturally.  I know there are things to work on like getting reads on fly balls.  I still work on that now.  I’d go to BP to see balls off the bat and then get game experience where you get better and better.  I think now, its only going to help me, hopefully, get back to the Big Leagues.”

NECBL.com: What advice would you give a college player on balancing mastering his best position and trying to be versatile?

BD: “Take ground balls on every place and then go into the outfield and shag fly balls.  That’s how you’re going to get your work in.  Be able to take ground balls at third one day and then second the next.  When you are already done with your shortstop work, go shag some balls in the outfield.  That’s what I’d recommend.  I think a lot of young guys only want to play one position but playing something other than your main position is only going to help you in the long run.”

NECBL.com: What sticks out about your time in the Big Leagues?

BD: “The debut sticks out.  I made an error and then still got the start the next day where they put me back in the lineup.  My first at-bat in my second game, I had an RBI triple.  I got a couple of hits and made a couple of plays.  That sticks out, and then just going through the process of just being in the Big Leagues…how exciting it was and how pumped up I was to be there.  It is something you always want to get back to because it is way better than the Minor Leagues.”

NECBL.com: You’re a Brewer now after six seasons with the Orioles’ organization.  Are the two organizations different or more similar?

BD: “Everything is about the same, it’s just a matter of philosophy on certain plays like how they run their bunt defense on first to third and how you get your work in.  Milwaukee is similar to Baltimore in the way Spring Training is run.”

Blake Davis’ Advice to the NECBL Class of 2013:

“I would say to make your own decisions and be confident in your own ability.  Listen to your coaches and take the little pieces of information that will help you.  Don’t worry about the next guy; only worry about yourself.  Take care of your own business on the field and off the field- especially- take care of yourself.  It will get you to where you want to go as long as you care about the team and be confident in yourself.”

Blake Davis Year by Year Highlights:

2003- Starts 26 games for the North Adams SteepleCats

2004- Makes 32 starts for the national champion Cal State Fullerton Titans.  Hits .295 with nine extra base hits

2005- Represents Team USA.  Leads CSF in steals with 17

2006- Hits .351, slugs .498 and steals 15 bases for Omaha-bound Titan team.  Gets four hits in College World Series.  Drafted by Orioles in the 4^th round.

2007- Hits .291 and named a Carolina League All-Star

2008- Hits .285 with 33 extra base hits at Double-A Bowie
2009- Promoted to Triple-A

2010- Plays at least 13 games at four different positions between Double-A and Triple-A
2011- Makes his Major League debut on June 22nd

2012- Named International Player of the Week on August 12^th; fields .985 as a shortstop