Former Oakland Baller Tyler Davis called up by Chicago White Sox

OAKLAND, Calif. (via Oakland Ballers) — The Chicago White Sox called up former Oakland Baller RHP Tyler Davis from its AAA affiliate per a team announcement on Thursday. This is the first time in Oakland's two-year franchise history that a player has made an MLB roster.

Davis, who will wear #63, was activated for the team's final game against the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday but did not play. He and the team return to Chicago today to start a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.

The Ballers signed Davis as an undrafted free agent out of Sam Houston State late in their first offseason in March of 2024. Davis pitched in college until an arm injury forced him to stop for a year and he picked up hitting. His final year of college he hit .423 with 7 HR and 60 RBI, some of the best hitting numbers in NCAA Division I.

The Ballers intended for Davis to play his way out of the Pioneer League as a two-way player. But Ballers pitching coach Jim Dedrick identified Davis's ability on the mound early in spring training and recognized his big league potential:

"I always thought that Tyler was going to be the guy to break into the bigs first. We've had a few guys go to the minors now but I remember saying that he was going to pitch his way to the big leagues, rather than with the bat, and I told him that too, early on. In fact, he wrote to me yesterday saying, 'Thank you Jim, I probably still would be trying to hit if you didn't tell me to put the bat down'".

Davis played in 7 games for Oakland and had a hit in three at-bats in the first two weeks of 2024. But he pitched in five of those with a 1.29 ERA with 9 K and only 4 H in 7.0 IP. On June 4, 2024, the home opener for the Ballers, the White Sox contacted the front office only hours before first pitch to purchase Davis's contract from Oakland.

Davis went to the Arizona Complex League first then rose through every level of the White Sox system from A to A+ to AA to AAA and now to MLB all in under two years. He is the first but surely not last Baller to make this journey.

Oakland's 2025 championship defense begins on May 19, 2026 with Opening Night against the Missoula Paddleheads.

For tickets and more information visit www.oaklandballers.com.