Shane Watson
| IP | 320 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.106 |
| WHIP | 1.459 |
| BB/9 | 3.769 |
| SO/9 | 6.525 |
- Full name Shane A Watson
- Born 08/13/1993 in Lakewood, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Lakewood
-
Drafted in the C-A round (40th overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2012 (signed for $1,291,300).
View Draft Report
Watson's two showdowns against fellow Southern California signee Chase DeJong were among the most heavily scouted games of the spring. DeJong has better feel for pitching presently, but Watson has higher upside, and he elevated his stock into sandwich round territory during his strong first half. Watson pitches with an 89-93 mph fastball and can reach back for 94-96 even in the late innings. When he's on (as he was for most of the spring), his 77-80 mph curveball is has tight rotation and sharp bite, and most scouts project it as a second plus pitch. His stuff wasn't quite as crisp in his second matchup against DeJong, when he pitched more in the 88-90 range and bumped 92, while his curveball has less power in the 73-78 range. Still, he has shown quality stuff often enough this spring, and scouts like his prototypical 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame and his competitiveness. He has some feel for a changeup that shows decent tumble at times, though he tends to throw it too hard at 84 mph. He has tinkered with a cutter at times as well, but the curveball is his bread and butter. While he has decent control, he needs to fine-tune his command. But his delivery and arm action work, suggesting his command will improve over time.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
A high school teammate of J.P. Crawford at Lakewood (Calif.) High, Watson lost about 30 pounds after signing with the Phillies before he learned that he had Type 1 diabetes. Once that was under control, he rebuilt his prototype pitcher's frame and showed flashes in 2013 of the pitcher the Phillies liked enough to pop in the sandwich round in 2012. He signed for $1,291,300 At his best, Watson sports a fastball that gets up to 95 mph and rates as a 60 on the 20-80 scale. He complements it with a big overhand curveball that flashes above-average. He's learning a changeup to go with those pitches, and got into trouble in 2013 when he went to the pitch too many times. Shoulder tendinitis and elbow inflammation limited him to just 72 innings at low Class A Lakewood--none after July 4--which raises red flags going forward. Watson's stuff and command came and went, and he appeared to run out of gas prior to being shut down. He has the stuff to pitch in the middle of a big league rotation, but he'll have to learn to maintain his stuff and hold up physically over the course of a full season. Watson needs innings and most likely will head back to Lakewood, but he could graduate to high Class A Clearwater during the season. -
The first of two Phillies supplemental first-round picks in 2012, Watson attended Lakewood (Calif.) High, the alma mater of Travis d'Arnaud, the star catcher prospect whom Philadephia included in the Roy Halladay deal in December 2009. In one of the most highly anticipated and scouted high school games last spring, Watson outdueled Chase DeJong in a matchup of Southern California recruits. After signing with the Phillies for $1,291,300, Watson lost about 30 pounds as he dealt with vomiting and tingling in his hands. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, he made five pro appearances once everything was under control and looked back to full strength in instructional league. For his frame, aggressiveness on the mound and power curveball, Watson reminds club officials of Phillies 1999 first-rounder Brett Myers. He also drew comparisons as an amateur to Brian Wilson. Watson runs his fastball from 89-95 mph. His curveball has bite and already is a plus offering, and his changeup is a work in progress. He doesn't have a classic arm action, and Philadelphia will work to refine his delivery, which should help his command. Watson projects as a mid-rotation starter and possibly more. He could make the jump to low Class A for his first full pro season.
Draft Prospects
-
Watson's two showdowns against fellow Southern California signee Chase DeJong were among the most heavily scouted games of the spring. DeJong has better feel for pitching presently, but Watson has higher upside, and he elevated his stock into sandwich round territory during his strong first half. Watson pitches with an 89-93 mph fastball and can reach back for 94-96 even in the late innings. When he's on (as he was for most of the spring), his 77-80 mph curveball is has tight rotation and sharp bite, and most scouts project it as a second plus pitch. His stuff wasn't quite as crisp in his second matchup against DeJong, when he pitched more in the 88-90 range and bumped 92, while his curveball has less power in the 73-78 range. Still, he has shown quality stuff often enough this spring, and scouts like his prototypical 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame and his competitiveness. He has some feel for a changeup that shows decent tumble at times, though he tends to throw it too hard at 84 mph. He has tinkered with a cutter at times as well, but the curveball is his bread and butter. While he has decent control, he needs to fine-tune his command. But his delivery and arm action work, suggesting his command will improve over time.
