Downs was born in Logan, Utah on June 21, 1952. He attended Viewmont High School in Bountiful, Utah, one of six baseball players drafted from that institution. He was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies with the sixth pick of the sixth round (128th overall) of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft.\n', '

At 18 years old, Downs was assigned to the low-A level Walla Walla Phillies of the Northwest League, where he posted a 5–7 win–loss record in 14 games played (all starts); his seven losses were the highest total on that year\'s team. In 80 innings pitched, Downs collected a 5.62 earned run average (ERA), walking 26 batters and allowing 103 hits. He was promoted to the Spartanburg Phillies in 1971, a member of the A-level Western Carolinas League. Downs amassed a 5–4 record in 12 starts with Spartanburg, walking 28 batters in 65 innings. He notched a 4.43 ERA and allowed only two home runs in his tenure.\n', '

Downs moved up to the AA-level Reading Phillies of the Eastern League for the 1972 season. As a hitter, he batted .167 with one double and one home run, scoring seven runs. On the mound, he started 26 games, comping a 15–7 record with 15 complete games. He struck out 96 batters and walked 40 in 183 innings, earning a promotion to the major league club in Philadelphia.\n', '

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