Mark Davis (pitcher)


Mark William Davis is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Davis played in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, and Milwaukee Brewers. He won the National League Cy Young Award in, as a relief pitcher for the Padres. Davis batted and threw left-handed. He was the Minor League Pitching Coordinator for the Kansas City Royals organization, but stepped aside after the season to coach a single short-season affiliate in.

Playing career

Davis began his career in with the Philadelphia Phillies, and spent parts of five seasons with the San Francisco Giants. He started a career-high 27 games in for a 5–17 win–loss record. He became a primary reliever the following season, but he did not establish himself as a top reliever until being traded to San Diego during the midseason.
In, Davis became the Padres' closer, earning 28 saves and 44 in, appearing in the All-Star Game in both seasons. He was a Cy Young Award winner in 1989 after a 1.85 ERA and 65 games finished in addition to his league-leading save total. In the last month of the season, he pitched 25 innings and did not allow any of the 19 runners he inherited to score. He was the fourth closer so honored in Award history. No closer would win the NL Cy Young again until Éric Gagné in.
Davis signed as a free agent for US$10 million with the Kansas City Royals before the season. He pitched ineffectively early in the season and subsequently lost the closer role to Jeff Montgomery. After a brief stint for the Atlanta Braves in, again he pitched with the Phillies and Padres from –. After going out for two years, he returned to pitch until retiring with the Milwaukee Brewers in. He never came close to matching his accomplishments for San Diego, earning only eleven saves over the last eight seasons of his career.
In a 15-season MLB career, Davis posted a 51–84 record, with a 4.17 ERA, and 96 saves, in 624 games pitched.

Post-playing career

Davis spent three seasons on the Arizona Diamondbacks staff, as bullpen coach in –, and pitching coach in. From to, Davis was the pitching coach for the Arizona League Royals. That October, he was promoted by the Kansas City Royals to Minor League Pitching Coordinator.

Personal life

Davis currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with Candy, his wife. They have four children.