Watts Named Pitcher of the Week
July 20, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (July 20, 2015) - It is hard for a late-inning reliever to make headlines without solid play from the rest of his teammates throughout the majority of the game. The Wichita Wingnuts have been playing much better of late and closer Dakota Watts has taken advantage. On Monday he was named the American Association Pitcher of the Week.
Watts, who was acquired in a trade with Grand Prairie earlier this year, made four appearances during the week without allowing a run. In the first outing, he picked up his third victory of the year by shutting out Joplin in the ninth and tenth innings of a game the Wingnuts won in walk-off fashion.
In his return to Grand Prairie over the weekend to face his former teammates, Watts was called upon often during the Wingnuts four-game sweep of the AirHogs. He recorded saves on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday while striking out four hitters. This season he is 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA and five saves combined between the south division rivals.
Watts appeared in nine games out of the bullpen for Grand Prairie to commence the season before joining the Mexican League. He was 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA and recorded one save with the AirHogs. In 10.2 innings he allowed seven runs, three of them earned, while whiffing 15 opposing hitters. The 27-year old made his last six appearances this year with the Acereros de Monclova. In Mexico he recorded a single save and gave up four runs in 5.2 frames.
Watts saved 21 games last season for Grand Prairie, his first in independent ball. He was selected in the 16th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. In five years in their farm system the native of Oroville, California played at least a portion of the season at Double-A new Britain four times. Despite posting a career earned run average with the Twins of 3.85 and allowing just three earned runs in 26.1 innings at Double-A in 2013, he was released following the season.
Watts is the first member of the Wingnuts to receive a weekly honor from the league during the 2015 season. He and the rest of the team will be taking on the Sioux Falls Canaries on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. It is a Kwik Shop Dollar Day so be sure to swing by a Wichita-area Kwik Shop to pick up your voucher for a $1 general admission ticket. For information on season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Wingnuts' main office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.
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