DI/SWAC/Baseball
By Michael Coker/Black College Nines
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff left-hander Andre Davis was drafted in the eighth round with the 249th overall pick Tuesday by the Kansas City Royals as the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) player selected in this year Major League Baseball 2015 Draft.
Davis, a 6-6, 225 senior was drafted as a pitcher played both infielder and pitcher for the UAPB Golden Lions.
On the mound, Davis has a fastball that hits the mid- to upper-90s consistently, along with a solid curve and slider according to scouting reports. During the season he was 2-2 with a 2.28 ERA recording five saves while he struck out 35 batters he faced permitted just 19 hits and seven earned runs.
Davis earned first team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) honors this season as a first baseman as he finished the season with 51 hits, .364 batting average, scoring 34 runs and drove in 39 runs with 12 doubles, one triple and six homers this past season.
The draft started this past Monday night with the first two rounds, and runs through Wednesday, when rounds 11- 40 will be held via conference calls with all 30 major league teams.