Tony Watson

Tony Watson
Watson with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 44
Pitcher
Born: (1985-05-30) May 30, 1985 Sioux City, Iowa
Bats: Left Throws: Left
debut
June 8, 2011, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Career statistics (through 2014 season)
Win–loss record	20–7
Earned run average	2.63
Strikeouts	225
WHIP	1.05
Teams
Pittsburgh Pirates (2011–present)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (2014)

Anthony "Tony" Michael Watson (born May 30, 1985) is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher currently on the Pittsburgh Pirates' active roster.

Early career

High school and college

Watson attended Dallas Center Grimes High School in Grimes, Iowa. He was selected in the 23rd round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins, but he chose to attend the University of Nebraska, where he pitched from 2005 to 2007. In 2005, he went 6-1 with a 2.82 ERA in 23 games (five starts) and in 2006 he went 10-2 with a 2.78 ERA in 17 games (15 starts). Watson was drafted in the 17th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, but chose not to sign. In 2007 he went 6-4 with a 4.09 ERA in 15 starts. He was then drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft and began his professional career that season.

Professional career

Pittsburgh Pirates

Watson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. He split 2007 between the State College Spikes and Hickory Crawdads, going a combined 7-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 13 starts. In 2008, he went 8-12 with a 3.56 ERA in 28 starts for the Lynchburg Hillcats and in 2009 he went 0-3 with an 8.22 ERA in five starts for the Altoona Curve. He went 6-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 34 games (nine starts) with the Curve in 2010.

On June 7, 2011, Watson was called up to the majors for the first time. José Ascanio was designated for assignment to make room. Watson made his major league debut on June 8, 2011, striking out both batters he faced, Chris Young and Juan Miranda of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

On May 26, 2014, Watson got his first career big league hit, a single off of Carlos Torres of the New York Mets.

During the 2014 season, Watson earned his first All Star Game selection. He retired the only batter he faced during the game.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)