Photo by: Conor Dillon/UGAAA
Catching Up With Alton Davis II
December 11, 2024 | Baseball
In 2024, the Georgia baseball team was a win away from a trip to the College World Series. With key additions like flame-throwing left-handed pitcher Alton Davis II, the Bulldogs hope to make another push to Omaha.
Davis enters his third season after headlining the Alabama bullpen for the first two years of his career. The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder posted a 4-2 mark, a team-high four saves with a 5.61 ERA, earning a spot on the midseason watch list for the Stopper of the Year award while leading the team in strikeouts.
The Hueytown, Ala., native brings a powerful arm and energetic, confident personality to Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Wes Johnson's pitching staff.
What's the biggest takeaway from your two seasons competing in the Southeastern Conference?
"I learned how to manage a lot and gain a good work ethic. The SEC is something different, you're on the go 24/7 once you hit the spring. My biggest takeaway is just having a killer mindset and working 24/7."
What was the main reason you decided to transfer to Georgia?
"Alabama was always good for me, but I wanted to be a starter, and I knew that Wes (Johnson) would give me a great opportunity to come out and show my talents here."
How was the experience playing with Kolten Smith and Tre Phelps on Team USA this past summer?
"It was fun. I knew Tre a little bit through travel baseball, and I knew Kolten because he was committed to Alabama before he committed to Georgia. I knew of them, and I have a good friendship with them. I knew we would hang out and have a good time so that was another reason I knew the chemistry when I got to Athens was going to be good throughout the whole program."
Were you always a pitcher?
"No, I was an outfielder in high school, that's the funny thing, I was recruited as an outfielder first, then I started pitching. I still wish I could live out my outfield dream."
If you could change one thing about your baseball career thus far, would you?
"I don't think I would. My journey has been a lot of ups and downs, and the reason you have ups and downs is you get to learn from them. The downs I've had, I've done that, and they've turned into very valuable life lessons for myself. I love it, I wouldn't change anything."
What's one thing that you think you're better at than anyone else on the team?
"I think I'm better at turning my modes off and on. When I get on the field it's a completely different person than I am off the field. When I'm on the field I have a killer instinct, when I'm off the field I'm the person everyone wants to be around."
What are your expectations for this season?
"I know that this team has a bunch of older guys and some younger guys, but the thing is, with the chemistry we've built through the fall, we're going to be unstoppable. I know we're focused on Omaha (College World Series). This year, I want to be one of the top pitchers in the SEC and one of the top pitchers to get off the draft board."
Your teammate Bradley Stewart has the nickname Motion. Where did that come from?
"We gave Motion the nickname because he's always on the go. He always has something to do 24/7. If you don't have anything to do, just text Motion. When you said Bradley Stewart, that was weird because I haven't heard his name for so long.
Do you have a nickname?
My nickname I've had for probably three or four years is Smoke. The reason for Smoke is that I throw gas, and I always have a light in the ignition. Smoke stands for: Start Making Opportunities Kount [sic] Early. I love that, and that's the one thing I live by."
(Profile written by Kyle Tatelbaum, Georgia Sports Communications)
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
Davis enters his third season after headlining the Alabama bullpen for the first two years of his career. The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder posted a 4-2 mark, a team-high four saves with a 5.61 ERA, earning a spot on the midseason watch list for the Stopper of the Year award while leading the team in strikeouts.
The Hueytown, Ala., native brings a powerful arm and energetic, confident personality to Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Wes Johnson's pitching staff.
What's the biggest takeaway from your two seasons competing in the Southeastern Conference?
"I learned how to manage a lot and gain a good work ethic. The SEC is something different, you're on the go 24/7 once you hit the spring. My biggest takeaway is just having a killer mindset and working 24/7."
What was the main reason you decided to transfer to Georgia?
"Alabama was always good for me, but I wanted to be a starter, and I knew that Wes (Johnson) would give me a great opportunity to come out and show my talents here."
How was the experience playing with Kolten Smith and Tre Phelps on Team USA this past summer?
"It was fun. I knew Tre a little bit through travel baseball, and I knew Kolten because he was committed to Alabama before he committed to Georgia. I knew of them, and I have a good friendship with them. I knew we would hang out and have a good time so that was another reason I knew the chemistry when I got to Athens was going to be good throughout the whole program."
Were you always a pitcher?
"No, I was an outfielder in high school, that's the funny thing, I was recruited as an outfielder first, then I started pitching. I still wish I could live out my outfield dream."
If you could change one thing about your baseball career thus far, would you?
"I don't think I would. My journey has been a lot of ups and downs, and the reason you have ups and downs is you get to learn from them. The downs I've had, I've done that, and they've turned into very valuable life lessons for myself. I love it, I wouldn't change anything."
What's one thing that you think you're better at than anyone else on the team?
"I think I'm better at turning my modes off and on. When I get on the field it's a completely different person than I am off the field. When I'm on the field I have a killer instinct, when I'm off the field I'm the person everyone wants to be around."
What are your expectations for this season?
"I know that this team has a bunch of older guys and some younger guys, but the thing is, with the chemistry we've built through the fall, we're going to be unstoppable. I know we're focused on Omaha (College World Series). This year, I want to be one of the top pitchers in the SEC and one of the top pitchers to get off the draft board."
Your teammate Bradley Stewart has the nickname Motion. Where did that come from?
"We gave Motion the nickname because he's always on the go. He always has something to do 24/7. If you don't have anything to do, just text Motion. When you said Bradley Stewart, that was weird because I haven't heard his name for so long.
Do you have a nickname?
My nickname I've had for probably three or four years is Smoke. The reason for Smoke is that I throw gas, and I always have a light in the ignition. Smoke stands for: Start Making Opportunities Kount [sic] Early. I love that, and that's the one thing I live by."
(Profile written by Kyle Tatelbaum, Georgia Sports Communications)
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
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