Junior pitcher Nick Davila has signed with the Tigers as an undrafted free agent.
TAMPA, July 6, 2020 – USF junior pitcher Nick Davila signed with the Detroit Tigers as an undrafted free agent Monday afternoon.
Davila (Hialeah, Fla.) became the third Bull to join a professional team this summer. Fellow pitcher Carson Ragsdale was selected by Philadelphia in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft, and Graham Hoffman was signed as an undrafted free agent by Boston.
“I want to thank the coaching staff, compliance and all my teammates for a wonderful experience over this past year,” Davila said. “I transferred in from Hillsborough Community College and off the bat I clicked with the guys on the team. I made lifelong friends and relationships that I will cherish forever. It feels surreal to have the chance to play professional baseball because you train every day for this dream. You hope and pray that one day your hard work will pay off. Go Tigers!”
Davila made his debut with the Bulls during the 2020 season after playing two seasons at Hillsborough Community College. Even though his junior season was cut short due to COVID-19, Davila had some impressive numbers in 2020. During his first outing with the Bulls, Davila tossed three innings of relief while striking out five batters against Marist to pick up his first win of the season. Davila set his USF career high with six strikeouts against Florida A&M.
Davila finished his USF career with 19 strikeouts through 12 innings of work.
“Congratulations to Nick,” head coach Billy Mohl said. “His hard work and dedication has paid off, and now he has a chance to go live his childhood dream. I’m proud of him and wish him nothing but success.”
USF’s combined total of MLB Draft selections and non-drafted free agent signings since 1973 is now up to 162.
About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball program is one of the fastest rising programs in the country. The Bulls earned their third NCAA Regional berth in the last four seasons and had six all-conference selections in 2018. Four players were selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program’s fourth first rounder, pitcher Shane McClanahan. Third baseman David Villar was taken in the 11th round after being named first team all-conference and an All-American. The Bulls reached the NCAA Regionals in 2015 for the first time in 13 years and followed that success with a 42-19 record and second NCAA regional trip in three years in 2017. The Bulls continued the success in head coach Billy Mohl first season in 2018, reaching 36 wins and advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2012, while being ranked in multiple polls for the final two months of the season. The USF Baseball program has won five conference titles and the Bulls have made 13 NCAA appearances.
– #GoBulls –
