Ben Davis (baseball)

Mark Christopher "Ben" Davis (born March 10, 1977, in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA) is a former Major League Baseball player. Davis began his career as a promising catcher, and spent seven seasons between 1998 and 2004 with San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and the Chicago White Sox at the Major League level. 2001 was the only season in which he was a regular, playing in more than half his team's games. He was nicknamed Big Ben during his time in Seattle because of his tall stature (6'4").

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

Amateur career

High school

Davis graduated in 1995 from Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He batted .514, going 36 for 70 with six home runs and 37 RBIs as a senior. He ranked as the second-best prospect by Baseball America in the 1995 draft. He was also tabbed by the same publication 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 of Lower Merion High School.