The parallels between Tyler Davidson and Josh Cram are striking.
Both Meadowdale grads, they moved on to standout college baseball careers. Both are 21 years old. Both are on minor league baseball teams. They even have the same agent.
Davidson and Cram have also had difficulties this year, but they remain confident they’ll achieve their Major League Baseball dreams.
Meadowdale’s Tyler Davidson had a stellar final season at the University of Washington. The junior outfielder was among the top three Huskies in batting average (.339), home runs (15), runs batted in (51) and runs scored (62).
The Dawgs had their best season since Davidson’s arrival. They were in contention for the Pac-10 conference title all year, eventually finishing fourth with a 15-9 conference record.
“We started off the season pretty slow,” Davidson said. “But after struggling the first 20 games, we realized we wanted to finish strong.”
They did. The team advanced to the postseason for the first time since 1998. At the NCAA regional in Houston, Davidson and the Dawgs eliminated Texas Tech before being eventually ousted by tournament host Rice.
“That final series was unreal,” Davidson said. “It was a great way to end.”
Davidson was responsible for much of the team’s success, according to head coach Ken Knutson.
“(Davidson) really picked it up a notch,” Knutson said. “He hustled really hard and provided good leadership. Tyler was an impact player for us.”
Following his standout season, Davidson, 21, became the first Husky selected in the 2002 Major League Baseball draft, taken by the New York Mets in the eighth round. Davidson signed a contract, giving up his final year of college baseball eligibility. He said he was ready to move on.
“I had done what I wanted to at (the University of) Washington,” he said. “I had a good three years.”
Davidson headed to the East Coast to play for the Brooklyn Cyclones, a Mets Class A club, in the New York-Penn league. He said he was excited to begin his professional baseball career. But then disaster struck. Five days after joining the team, Davidson was hit by a pitch during batting practice.
“I thought, ‘Man, my wrist is hurting,’” he said. “It definitely felt wrong, but I didn’t want to tell anyone.”
Something was wrong. Davidson saw a trainer and was told he had torn a ligament in his left wrist, ending his first pro season before it had begun.
“I was pretty bummed out,” Davidson said. “(A chance to play professional baseball) is what I’ve waited for.”
Following surgery July 26, Davidson will be sidelined at least another four months. He’s looking forward to next season when he can finally display his talent in Brooklyn.
“The crowd and the atmosphere (in Brooklyn) are awesome,” Davidson said, noting that the Cyclones’ home games are almost always sold out.
Despite his baseball priorities, Davidson won’t turn his back on his education. Davidson said he will return to the UW to finish his bachelor’s degree in sociology.
Meadowdale’s Josh Cram was on the fast track to professional baseball success.
In 2000, the right-handed flamethrower excelled at Edmonds Community College, going 5-0 with a 1.08 earned-run average (ERA) and 45 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched.
“It was a privilege to coach him,” said EdCC coach Donnie Marbut. “He worked as hard or harder than anyone we’ve ever had.”
The standout performance earned Cram a scholarship to Clemson University, one the top programs in the country. In 2001, Cram sustained his momentum, becoming the Tigers’ reliable closer (4-1, 4.21 ERA, 5 saves).
In June 2001, Cram’s hard work paid off. He was drafted in the fourth round by the San Francisco Giants. They sent him to play A-ball in the Northwest League with the Salem-Keizer (Ore.) Volcanoes. Once again, Cram bulldozed the competition, posting a 5-2 record and a 3.03 ERA.
He capped the Volcanoes’ Northwest League season by earning the victory in final game of the league championship series. Following the season, the Giants promoted Cram to the Hagerstown (Md.) Suns, where he began the 2002 season.
But then the momentum screeched to a halt.
As he entered spring training this season, Cram felt tightness in his shoulder. It was a minor muscle strain that required weekly therapy and kept him off the field for a few weeks. Cram said he never found his groove as the 140-game season began in Hagerstown.
“I had to rush it,” he said. “I couldn’t string together four or five good starts. I never really found the feel for the strike zone.”
At the season’s midpoint, Cram had a disappointing 6.20 ERA and was demoted back to Salem. He was frustrated. Even after getting healthy, the mental side of his pitching game was out of whack, he said.
The season has continued to be up and down, Cram said.
“I’m still kind of in a mental slump,” he said.
Through August 6, Cram was 0-1 with a 6.94 ERA in 14 appearances for the Volcanoes. He said his throwing velocity is great and he’s locked onto the strike zone during warmups, but in live game action the accuracy still isn’t there.
A little adversity will make Cram better, Marbut said.
“He’s not going to quit. He’ll change (his current struggles) with hard work.
“Of all the players I’ve coached, if I had to pick one guy that will make it to the major leagues, it’s Josh.”
Despite the setback, Cram is optimistic.
“I can’t wait for next year,” he said. “It will be a clean slate. I’ll bounce back next year.
“The Giants aren’t going to give up on me,” said Cram, whose contract runs through 2007.
One positive has been the relationships Cram has developed. In Salem, the coaches are good, he said, and he’s made some great friends. He also stays in touch with Marbut and best friend Courtney Hall, also of Meadowdale.
Cram’s dream of playing Major League Baseball hasn’t faded. The 21-year old said he feels privileged to be where he is.
“I’m getting paid to play baseball,” Cram said. “I love doing this and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
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