Ben Davis (baseball)

Mark Christopher "Ben" Davis (born March 10, 1977), is an American former professional baseball player, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Chicago White Sox, between 1998 and 2004. Davis began his career as a promising catcher, but 2001 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).

After returning to the Minor Leagues for several seasons, Davis converted to pitching, in 2008. for parts of three seasons, before retiring in 2011. He currently works as a color commentator for the Philadelphia Phillies and lives with his wife, two sons, and two daughters in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Davis graduated in 1995 from Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, 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, by Baseball 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 fellow Main Line-prodigy Kobe Bryant, (then) of Lower Merion High School.

Davis was a first-round pick, second overall, in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft, by the San Diego Padres, out of Malvern Preparatory School. USA Today called him the best high school catcher since Dale Murphy, in 1974. Davis was named to the Pioneer League All-Star team, in his first professional season, with the Advanced-Rookie Idaho Falls Braves, in 1995.

In 1996, Davis was limited to designated hitter duties, for the first month of the season, with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, due to a sore right elbow. He threw out 25 of 98 attempted base-stealers. Davis also spent the 1997 season at Rancho Cucamonga, throwing out 59 of 159 attempted base-stealers.

The Padres purchased Davis' contract from the Double-A Mobile BayBears on September 19, 1998. He made his Major League debut, as a defensive replacement, on September 25, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Davis reached on an error, in his first and only at-bat of the season. He was named to the Southern League All-Star team, that season, his first with Mobile. Davis threw out 47 of 83 attempted base-stealers.

Davis spent the majority of the 1999 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 the Colorado Rockies, a single off Mark Brownson. He posted his first career four-hit game, on September 15, against the Atlanta Braves, including a solo home run off John Smoltz.

Davis split the 2000 season between the Triple-A Las 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.