Kyle Davies

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=Kyle Davies
position=Starting pitcher
team=Kansas City Royals
number=28
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|9|9
birthplace=city-state|Decatur|Georgia
debutdate=May 21
debutyear=2005
debutteam=Atlanta Braves
statyear=August 30, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=22-34
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=5.91
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=259
teams=
*Atlanta Braves (by|2005-by|2007)
*Kansas City Royals (by|2007-present)

Hiram Kyle Davies (born September 9, 1983 in Decatur, Georgia) is a Major League Baseball player with the Kansas City Royals. He grew up in Stockbridge, Georgia and graduated from Stockbridge High School. Davies signed right out of high school with the Atlanta Braves.

Davies was a starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and part of the group of rookie players nicknamed the "Baby Braves" that Atlanta called up from its minor league system during the mlby|2005 season.

Davies made his Major League debut on May 21, 2005, a rainy night at Fenway Park in Boston and dominated six innings against the Red Sox. Braves pitchers John Thomson and Mike Hampton were both put on the disabled list with injuries, and Davies was called up. Davies immediately made an impact, as he did not allow a run in his first three starts in the Major Leagues. When Thomson and Hampton returned to the pitching rotation in August, Davies was sent back to the minor leagues.

Davies began the mlby|2006 season as a starter in Atlanta, after coming to spring training as a probable Triple-A starter. On May 15, 2006, Davies suffered an injury to his right groin while pitching against the Florida Marlins. He was later diagnosed with a torn groin muscle and underwent surgery several days later. As a result of the injury, Davies was put on the disabled list and missed 10 weeks of the season. He ended up making only 14 starts in 2006, with a very poor ERA of 8.38.

Out of spring training in mlby|2007, Davies was initially assigned to Triple-A Richmond. However, due to the injury of Lance Cormier at the end of spring training, he was promoted at the beginning of the year to fill Cormier's spot. Cormier's inability to return to form after rehabilitating and coming off the DL, coupled with the Braves losing Mike Hampton to season ending surgery, allowed Davies role on the pitching staff to cease being a fill-in role. However, in 17 starts, Davies had a terrible time establishing any pattern of reliability and consistency, posting a record of 4-8 with a 5.76 ERA. In a start on July 16 versus the Cincinnati Reds, Davies threw just 22 pitches and did not record an out before being taken out of the game. Consequently, Davies was optioned to Triple-A Richmond on July 19 as rookie Jo-Jo Reyes assumed his spot in the rotation.

On July 31, 2007, Davies was traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for pitcher Octavio Dotel. On August 4, Davies made his Royals debut going three innings and giving up five earned runs. He also gave up Alex Rodriguez's 500th homer in the first inning. But on August 9, he was able to bounce back with 6 and 2/3 scoreless innings against the Minnesota Twins, giving up only 3 hits and striking out 4. The Royals won the game by the score of 2-0. He currently resides in Stockbridge, Georgia

External links

* [http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player.jsp?player_id=434678 MLB.com Player Information]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/d/davieky01.shtml Baseball Reference.com Statistics]