The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DAVONN Mackey had an opportunity to share his recent success with friends, family and supporters at the St George's Gymnasium in Grand Bahama as he awaits his rookie ball assignment.

Mackey was the latest Bahamian player to ink a deal with an MLB franchise when he signed with the Oakland Athletics in a deal that includes a $225,000 signing bonus.

"It is a very special moment for me and I just want to thank everyone who came out. I thank God first for allowing me to work hard and to get to this point," he said. "I want to thank my family for sticking by my side throughout it all, my church family and my friends who were there to push me. It has been a wonderful experience thus far and I just hope that I can keep on going and moving forward."

Mackey signed out of In the BigInning Baseball Academy in Maracay, Venezuela.

The Grand Bahama native was recently a member of the gold medal-winning team for Grand Bahama Little League in the 16-18 division of the Bahamas Baseball Federation's Andre Rodgers National Championship.

He becomes the second player to join the Athletics' farm system.

BigInning Academy offers elite level skills training for prospective players on the path to professional baseball.

Carlos Lara of In The BigInning Academy was on hand at the signing touted Mackey's potentinal. "He's a great kid. He has a gift and we should enjoy it because he should be a name to watch in baseball."

Mackey is the youngest of seven siblings. His older brother, Seberon Mackey, recently completed his senior season as a pitcher for Jackson State University where he finished with a 2-0 record, nine strikeouts and a 2.19 era.

Their mother, Jennifer Mackey, credits her oldest son and early mentors for making baseball the family business.

"Davonn is the youngest of seven children. I have to thank Ms Staphanie Higgs who pushed my oldest son Keel into baseball and he in turn pushed the other boys into baseball from T-ball. Age," she said. "I have to thank everyone in the family and church members that have contributed in some way, especially his six siblings. Davonn is gone now, he got his opportunity, I just want to see the other baseball players, his teammates go as well. In all things put God first, push towards it and they'll make it also."

Stephen Adderley, of the Grand Bahama Little League, said it produces a feeling of humility and purpose to see a player who began the game at the earliest level, blossom into a young professional.

"We seem to be having more and more of these with these young men signing contracts and going to school. When they started the programme and you see them come in at 4-5 you never know which ones will make it to this level. It's always good to see someone who started as a baby in the league make it to this point in their career," he said. "It's not always the one who is the most talented, it is the guy who works hardest and who wants it more. Davonn is a good example for those guys. There may be guys who were more talented but he wanted it more and this is why he is where he is now."