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Q&A with Alabama-Birmingham commit Zack Davis (Kearney, 2015)

February 12, 2015

Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

Zack Davis (Kearney, 2015) is a 6-foot-4 205-pound RHP/3B. Davis, a left-handed hitter, hit .400 last season with four home runs and 30 RBI.  On the mound, he was 5-0 with 1.61 ERA and led Kearney to a 16-11 record in 2014.  Last summer, Davis played for the Kansas City Barnstormers.

Davis runs a 6.8 60 and has been clocked as high as 88 mph on the mound.  He hits from a tall stance and delivers middle of the field line drives. 

Below is a look into the recruiting process for Zack Davis

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?

Davis: My situation was unique in that I was being recruited for football and baseball at the same time and a lot of the baseball schools thought I was going to play football.  Then I had knee surgery right in the middle of everything. So it was pretty challenging at times and not really like I expected it would be.

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

Davis: I’ve always wanted to play in the South so location was important but distance not as much.

PBR: Where did Alabama-Birmingham first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Davis: They saw me at Perfect Game in Atlanta last July where I made the All Tournament team.  Communication really picked up in January of this year and it all came together very quickly from there.

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?

Davis: I’ve faced a lot of good players but its too hard to pick just one.

PBR: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Davis: A coaching staff that would help me develop as a man as well as a player, a great fit with the players, great facilities and the opportunity to win championships.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

Davis: You can never work hard enough. Baseball isn’t just a spring or summer sport, it’s one where you have to put work in consistently, even if you play another sport. Also, you will be faced with adversity. Great players overcome adversity, and are better because of it. Baseball is a game of failure, you have to be able to manage failure.

PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?

Davis: My routine consists of speed and weight training, hitting, long toss, and defensive work. 

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

Davis: I’ve had so many great memories over the years but I would say that up to this point one of my top accomplishments is earning a Division 1 scholarship at a dream school.

PBR: What do you like most about Alabama-Birmingham and what were the key factors in making your decision?

Davis: The best thing about UAB are the coaches and players. They are people that work hard every day and love what they do.

PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?           

Davis: I had several offers in football and baseball, and took a few visits, but honestly I never had a short list. When I went to UAB I knew that it was the place for me.

PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

Davis: I performed well at a Barnstormers Showcase in December 2013 and soon after that is when the recruiting process picked up.

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals? Name some players that will play a key role for Kearney in 2015.

Davis: We have a lot of experience returning. We will have a deep pitching rotation and seven returning starters in the field. We want to win districts and make a deep run in the state playoffs.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them?

Davis: I play for Karl Carswell and the KC Barnstormers. This last summer was the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball, the coaches and players on that club were awesome.

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