Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information

Salem, Mass. --  Salem State graduate and former baseball standout, Mike Davis '16,  continues to pursue a career in professional baseball, and recently landed in Rincón, Puerto Rico after accepting an invitation to play in the Puerto Rico Instructional Baseball League (PRIBL). The four-week instructional league, which takes place every January, allows recent college players the opportunity to receive instruction from former professional players and perform in front of scouts in hopes of garnering interest from Major League Baseball and various independent and international professional leagues. 

Davis, a former first team All-MASCAC and second team All-New England outfielder enjoyed a tremendous senior season in 2016, leading the conference in hits, doubles, home runs and runs scored as the Vikings earned their third MASCAC title and NCAA Tournament bid during Davis's tenure.    

The Peabody, Mass, native recently shared his experience in Puerto Rico which culminated in an invitation to spring training with the independent Empire Professional Baseball League, which is based in upstate New York and Maine.      
 
1. Talk about what you did the summer after graduation in terms of preparing for a career in professional baseball.    
 
  "After graduating with a degree in Criminal Justice, I started working for a private investigation company while still training actively for a chance to continue my baseball career. I continued to play summer league baseball and had a tryout with the Can-Am League. I was working with the Department of Youth Services when I received a call from the PRIBL in late October to play in the instructional league. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass it up as I wanted to give professional baseball one more shot.
 
2. What was your best moment playing at Salem State, and how did playing for the Vikings help prepare you to take the next step forward in your baseball career?
 
  "I think my best moment was just being surrounded by a great group of guys and coaches that I really respected on and off the field. Also, winning – three MASCAC championships in my four years – and playing in the NCAA Regionals was really special as well. Being at Salem State really helped me understand that if you put in the hard work and dedicate yourself 100%, the results will show in your development as a player." 
 
3. Tell us about your experiences in Puerto Rico.  
 
 "Being in Puerto Rico for the month was an experience of a lifetime. The camp was set up to show off the skills of all the players through practices and games. Most showcases or tryouts only last two days and you only have one to two live at-bats to prove yourself. Not only were we able to practice every day and gain instruction from scouts and coaches, but the opportunity to play in 25-30 games really allowed you to showcase yourself. The skill level of the players was really unmatched as we would face many professional teams, which was great because you were always going against top-notch players." 
 
4. Any advice for other players who wish to continue playing professionally who were not drafted.

  "The advice I would give to players who were not drafted would be to never give up on your dream of playing professional baseball. Always work hard in everything that you do because results will come from it, and you never know who is watching you. Just because you are not drafted doesn't mean that it is the end of the road. Believe in your skills and don't be afraid to take chances that could help you reach that ultimate goal of playing professional baseball."   
 
5. What are your aspirations after having gone through the instructional league?
 
   "My goal coming out of the PRIBL was to be able to showcase my skills in front of scouts from various leagues and organizations and hopefully be able to continue playing the game I love so much. I was invited to spring training with the Empire Professional Baseball League, which starts in June, and my hopes are to catch on with a team and try and move up throughout independent baseball; eventually make it to an affiliated baseball club."