Mets Draft - Pick 7.204 - RHP - Will Watson - USC

 

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2024/USC:

Made 16 appearances on the mound, including 9 starts as a junior for USC

Started the season as a reliever before and made 7 appearances out of the pen before moving into a starter role for his final 9 appearances

 Went 5-2 on the mound with a 3.93 ERA in 50.1 innings pitched

Had 46 strikeouts to 27 walks, with opponents hitting .234 against him

Posted his best start of the year in the Pac-12 tournament against No. 23 Oregon (4-2 win), giving up 1 run in 6.0 innings, with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks

Threw at least 5 innings in each of his last 7 starts, giving up more than 3 runs only twice (4 both times)

 

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Round 7, No. 203 Overall

Will Watson, RHP, USC

Notable Skill: Watson spent much of his amateur career as a reliever, bouncing between three colleges. But the Mets envision him as a starting pitcher, continuing a transition that began during the right-hander’s junior season. If Watson can continue developing his off-speed offerings, he might just stick In a professional rotation.

Fun Fact: After Watson spent his sophomore season at a junior college, the Mariners selected him in the 20th round of last year’s Draft, but he chose to transfer to USC instead.

Quotable: “We think his fastball can play as a starter. Developing the slider will be a key for him, but it showed promise at times.” – Gross

 

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Round 7, Pick No. 203: RHP Will Watson, USC

Watson played one season at Cal Lutheran and then another at San Joaquin Delta College before transferring to USC, where he spent his junior campaign.

He served as both a starter and reliever during his time with the Trojans, pitching to a 3.93 ERA and 1.41 WHIP while striking out 46 batters across 16 appearances.

Gross believes Watson's fastball "can play as a starter" and “developing the slider will be key for him, but it showed promise at times.”

 

https://usctrojans.com/news/2024/7/15/usc-baseballs-overn-watson-selected-on-second-day-of-mlb-draft.aspx -

Watson, the 203rd overall pick, came to USC as a junior transfer from San Joaquin Delta College prior to the 2024 season. He started the season pitching out of the bullpen but moved into a starter role midway through the year and became one of the Trojans most effective arms by the end of the season. In 16 appearances and nine starts, 

Watson posted a 3.93 ERA with 46 strikeouts and just 27 walks. He posted his best start of the year in the Pac-12 tournament against No. 23 Oregon (a 4-2 win), giving up one run in 6.0 innings, with seven strikeouts and two walks. Watson threw at least 5.0 innings in each of his last seven starts, giving up more than three runs only twice (four both times).

 

Mack – A very imposing figure on the mound. Still plenty of room to mature physically. Compact, athletic delivery. High ¾ slot.

Consider this guy as a project and a longshot at best.