dˈeɪvɪs wʌz sᵻlˈɛktᵻd baɪ ðə kˈænzəs sˈɪɾi ɹˈɔɪəlz ɪnðə twˈɛlfθ ɹˈaʊnd ʌvðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˌɛmˌɛlbˈiː dɹˈæft ˌaʊɾəv ˈiːst kˌæɹəlˈaɪnə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ɪn ɡɹˈiːnvɪl, nˈɔːɹθ kˌæɹəlˈaɪnə.
Davis was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 12th round of the 1980 MLB Draft out of East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.