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NYPL Norwich Sea Unicorns

Spenser Watkins Making Himself Known

September 2, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Norwich Sea Unicorns News Release


Spenser Watkins, a 30th round draft pick in the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft out of Division II Western Oregon has been a bit of a late bloomer in a baseball sense. The former Connecticut Tiger and New York-Penn League All-Star is a 23-year old right-hander who didn't play Division I baseball or start pitching until his senior year of high school.

Prior to the start of his senior year at Horizon High School in Arizona Watkins had never been a pitcher. Horizon is one of the most successful high school programs in the country and during Watkins' four years at the school the team won three state titles and was ranked number one in the country during his freshman season.

Watkins had been a catcher but because of depth at the position he was moved to the outfield due to his arm strength. Once an outfielder Watkins struggled with his hitting so the decision was made to put him on the mound.

"I didn't throw a whole lot during my senior year of high school," said Watkins of his first year as a pitcher. "My head coach is very good at developing players for the next level so his goal was to develop me enough to get me to another level. So I didn't throw a whole lot and all I threw was a fastball. It was maybe 87 mph but I had some success and I also got hit around in a couple other games but (my coach) was just interested in getting me to a school to be able to walk-on and he did."

That school was Glendale Community College and it was there that the righty began to find his pitching identity. During his first year at the school Watkins served as the teams set-up man and closer but he didn't start to feel really comfortable on the mound until his second year at Glendale when the was made a starting pitcher.

Once he became a starter he began to gain confidence and comfort on the mound and following two-years at Glendale he committed to play for Western Oregon.

Watkins did have some minor interest from Division I schools such as Illinois and Utah with neither schools guarantying scholarships or spots on the team.

"The (Western Oregon) program was just very similar to my high school program, just very old school and get down to business type and play hard so that was what intrigued me," explained Watkins.

Upon arriving at Western Oregon the All-Star really began to blossom. During his junior year he was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year.

From there things only continued to improve for Watkins. During the summer of 2013 he pitched in the West Coast League with the Kitsap Blue Jays and he threw the first perfect game in league history.

"I threw in the bullpen before the game and I didn't throw one strike," Watkins said with a smile. "I didn't throw one pitch that broke, I didn't throw anything good. I had hurt my oblique a few weeks before so I was still kind of tender so I was like this is going to be a bad day. I went 3-2 on all three batters in the first inning and I ended up getting two strikeouts and a ground out. Then as the innings went by I just kept getting better and better and it came so easy is the best way to describe it. I could throw any pitch in any count and it was really awesome because it was a great group of guys that I was playing with that summer to share it with."

After the summer in the West Coast League Watkins went back to Western Oregon and completed a successful two-year career with a senior season that saw him post a 7-3 record with a 3.50 ERA. Up next was the draft and Detroit was actually not where Watkins expected to end up.

As the draft moved into its third day Watkins still waited for his name to be called. When the 27th round came a Detroit area scout called him to let him know that his name was being thrown around. However, because it was a scout Watkins had never talked to and because it was a Kansas City phone number he anticipated either St. Louis or Kansas City would be the team to draft him.

"Then the 29th round comes and he calls me again and says we are still throwing your name around so keep listening," says Watkins. "So I'm looking for Kansas City or St. Louis and then Detroit comes up and I am not even paying attention but then I hear my last name, it doesn't register until I hear my first (name) and my girlfriend was there with me and all my baseball friends where there. It was awesome, it was a pretty good feeling."

Once Watkins was drafted it was off to the Gulf Coast League Tigers for the 2014 season and then onto Connecticut for the majority of the 2015 season. It was in Connecticut where the right-hander began to find his footing as a professional and make a name for himself.

"I credit it a lot of (my success) to Carlos (Chantress our pitching coach) for teaching me how to attack hitters and how to approach the game. Having a game plan and sticking to that game plan has probably been the biggest step for me. I have always had good enough stuff to get me through. However, now I am able to set up pitches and then execute a certain pitch that I set up a couple pitches before that has been the biggest stride for me," said Watkins.

Those strides were never more evident then early in July when manager Mike Rabelo told Watkins he was headed to the All-Star game.

"That was a huge honor. Just being drafted later and not really having much of a name for myself so far and just to be able to have the kind of success that I have had here and to be recognized for what I have been doing was a really great feeling for me."

In fact, Watkins pitched so well with Connecticut that he was able to earn himself a late season call-up to the West Michigan Whitecaps, the Detroit Tigers full-season Single-A team. During his time with the Tigers Watkins went 5-4 with a league leading 2.23 ERA and .193 batting average against which ranked second in the NYPL. He also had 55 strikeouts while issuing just 19 walks in his 64.2 innings pitched.

If Watkins keeps progressing on his current trajectory he won't have any problems making sure that everyone knows his name. His late season call-up to West Michigan is evidence that the decision makers in the Detroit organization have certainly noticed his name a time or two.

The Connecticut Tigers are the New York-Penn League affiliate of the Detroit Tigers and play a 76 game schedule that runs from mid June through early September. 2015 season tickets, group tickets, mini plans, individual game tickets, and team merchandise are now on sale! The front office and ticket office is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be accessed in person or by calling 860-887-7962.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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