Elk Grove Slugger Has Option To Go Pro

For the extraordinary position he is in, J.D. Davis still has pretty typical options. Following high school graduation, he can either go to college or go to work.

Of course for Davis, a standout on the baseball field, both options are pretty enticing. Davis graduated from Elk Grove High School earlier this week and already has signed a NCAA National Letter-of-Intent to play baseball at California State Fullerton.

But the slugging third baseman also has the option of jumping straight into professional baseball, touted as a top prospect for June’s first-year player Major League Baseball draft.

Both Davis and his Elk Grove coach Jeff Carlson admit that the MLB draft can be a fickle guessing game, and that Davis could be selected anywhere from in the first few rounds to much deeper in the draft, depending on a number of factors.

At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, the 18-year-old right-handed hitter would be recruited as a third baseman. He hit .506 this regular season with eight home runs, 13 doubles and 43 RBIs. But Davis also pitched, recording a 1.68 earned run average with a 5-2 record, striking out a team-high 57 opposing hitters.

“He has been the guy we go to all year long,” Carlson said of his four-year varsity player. “He carried us on his back in certain situations. Obviously it’s been a team effort but we’ve looked to him to guide us through a season journey. He is not only an outstanding talent but also he’s a great kid off the field.”

The Thundering Herd finished its season 22-5 and is among the top seeds in the Sac-Joaquin section for Div. 1 playoffs.

We caught up with Davis on the day of his graduation to talk about his high school years and what’s next.

You graduate today. Is it hard to believe that high school has ended?

Yeah, it’s very hard. Jorge, our shortstop who has been with me on varsity since freshman year, and I talk about it every time a senior class goes by. Now we look at each other and this is our last year, only a couple games left, it’s crazy. These four years have gone by so quick and there have been so many memories, so much fun.

What will you miss the most about high school?

I will miss my friends. With my friends, we don’t talk baseball. It’s a laid-back thing. I just get to be another person. It’s relaxing, especially with playoffs and college and pro guys coming in.

There are projections that you could be a high-round pick in the Major League Baseball draft. How do you feel about that?

It’s amazing. I pretty much try not to think about it, though, because you never know how the draft is going to go. You can’t control it. You just have to play the game and not worry. Just go with the flow and see how it goes. But it’s still cool hearing all these great things.

What will it come down to in terms of pursuing professional baseball vs. playing at the college level? Is there one way you would say you are leaning right now?

It’s pretty much in the air. My family and I will make the decision. We’re still thinking about it and talking about it. I know I have Fullerton as an option but I’m seeing what happens.

Maybe it’s obvious, but has it always been your dream to be a professional baseball player?

Yes it has. Ever since I was born.

How about a future in anything else outside of baseball?

I haven’t really thought about it. But I am thinking of pursuing business administration if I go to school.

As a four-year varsity player, how much has baseball influenced your high-school years?

Baseball has been my life since I was four years old. I used to play football but I quit my sophomore year after breaking my leg in two places. I concentrated more on baseball.

Broken leg? That sounds pretty scary.

Yeah, I was going into my junior year. It was our first inner-squad scrimmage, I was starting quarterback and they called a QB sneak. I was tackled at my ankle, and it snapped. I was out four to five weeks so I hit the weight room doing bench press, incline press, pushups, whatever I could do with the cast on.

Going into that year of high school I was 180 pounds and after the injury I ended up gaining weight because I was working out every single day. I was 210 going into my junior season in the spring. I was kind of scared at first because leg injuries don’t always heal all the way. But I healed up well and it wasn’t long before I was out running around.

You’ve dominated as both a hitter and a pitcher. What is one of the reasons you feel you’ve been so successful?

The guys around me. My teammates – guys like Jorge Vina, Dom Nunez, Ryan Tellez – they carried us every single game. Tellez, a sophomore hitting behind me, is hitting just as well as I am. Other teams began pitching around me and I wasn’t getting any pitches to hit. But Tellez started taking advantage and hit really well as a sophomore. He did excellent and they had to face me instead of just going after him. I started getting more pitches, which helped me out. Also in pitching, I did not have as many strikeouts as I did last season, as I was letting my guys on defense help me out.

And what about personally, how did you become so successful?

My Dad and I talked about it and knew they wouldn’t pitch to me, so I just had to be patient. Last year, coming off such a great year (.486, 8 HRs, 60 RBIs), I knew I had to be patient and take a walk.

The philosophy my dad has always told me is to stay positive and never quit. I just try to have fun on the field, not take things too seriously. Especially since you can’t play the game forever.

So far, what has been the highlight of your senior season?

Against Davis High School, I pitched a one-hitter and had two hits of my own. That pretty much clinched the Delta Valley Conference right then and there.

Do you remember walking on to that field the first time as a freshman?

The stat I will always remember is when I went 0-for-33 in my first 33 at-bats. Actually, I went down to JV for a game, ended up doing well and hit a triple, slid to third and broke my hand. I was still with varsity walking around with a cast after that. I bounced back, though.

Your head coach, Jeff Carlson, has been at it for a number of successful years at Elk Grove. What’s been your relationship with your coach?

The relationship with him has been awesome. I can always come to him and he always trusts me and I trust him. We work well together. Whatever he asks of me, I’ll do it the best I can.

Entering the playoffs, how important is it to you that you finish your high school career with success?

This year, I thought it would be a bit of a downfall with the loss of so many seniors from last season. But we kept our expectations high and ended up doing very well.  I want to get to sections, and get that section title like I have always wanted the last four years.