After tough start, Davis trying to show he belongs

Blake Davis is certainly enjoying his time in the major leagues. He has been with the Orioles since June 18 and is batting .313 (5-for-16) over five games. For Davis, he is in the majors about two years after it looked like he might make it the first time. He was having a solid spring training in March of 2009 with the Orioles and coming off a season where he hit .284 at Bowie. His stock was on the rise and he made a good impression in big league camp. But then he suffered an ankle injury late in camp and had to undergo surgery. As he looks back now, that injury might have derailed him for parts of two seasons. He said just being healthy now has helped him be able to show what he can do. "Coming back in that '09 season after surgery took me a while," Davis said. "I thought I would come back and be fine but the rest of that season was not the best. It ended up where other muscles were hurting all the time. "Last year, I moved into a utility role. I had to learn some different things and focus on other positions. But I just got my confidence back. I had like a year and a half where I wasn't feeling too good about myself." But now, he has gotten the chance in the majors and is trying to enjoy every day and every moment. "I am enjoying it a ton. This is what I've wanted to do. Playing in the big leagues is special," Davis, an O's fourth-round pick in 2006, said. After hitting .246 at Triple-A last season, Davis was batting .284 in 49 games this year at the time of his call-up. He has made four starts at second base and produced a pair of two-hit games in those chances. "I am just trying to be calm at the plate, not get too jumpy or get out on my front foot," Davis said. "Trying to incorporate some bunting in there, that's part of my game, too." Davis has been solid in the field since his error let in two runs in a loss at Pittsburgh in his big league debut. He has bounced back nicely from that and is tying to make an impression on the Orioles' staff. "Most of it is performance, but you also come here and work and know your place as a rookie," he said. "You don't want to get too far ahead of yourself. Do what you are asked and do the best you can. I think I've done all right so far." So has his brief time in the majors been everything he thought it would be so far? "It's better. You don't know what to expect coming here, but these guys have been great," Davis said.