Former New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis is trying to pull a reverse Rick Ankiel, transforming himself from a position player into a pitcher. Now 30 years old, Davis is in the Arizona League as part of the Dodgers’ farm system, and his comeback attempt is off to a good start.
Davis — who hit 32 homers for the Mets in 2012 — made his debut against the AZL Padres on Sunday, and struck out the side. One inning may not mean much, especially in the Arizona League, but give Davis some credit for mowing down professional hitters who have legitimate talent.
We’ll see how Davis’ comeback attempt goes, but it’s worth noting he put up some solid numbers on the mound at Arizona State. During his junior year, he went 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 24 innings against four walks. He also pitched two innings with the Athletics in 2015 without allowing a run.
