Tyler Watson Ready For The Quest

WASHINGTON—Though lefthander Tyler Watson bypassed college when he signed for a 34th-round record $400,000, he carries himself like he is ready for life on his own.

“Tyler is a professional in every sense of the word,” farm director Mark Scialabba said. “He works extremely hard at his craft, has great habits and is a student of the game.”

Watson fully expected to attend Loyola Marymount, especially after the Nationals took him so late in the 2015 draft out of Perry High in Gilbert, Ariz.

“I had my ID, knew my classes and was ready to go,” said Watson, 19.

Instead, Watson signed before the mid-July deadline and went on to throw 13 innings in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League without allowing an earned run. Then in 2016, he went 1-2, 1.88 with 48 strikeouts and nine walks in 43 innings at short-season Auburn before finishing the season at low Class A Hagerstown.

“At Auburn, I learned a lot because it was my first time traveling so much, and I lived with a host family,” Watson said. “I thought I was mentally prepared enough, so then if I went to pro ball, I could work with the coaches and at the same time get stronger.”

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Watson throws a fastball that has touched 93 mph but is usually in the 89-90 range. He said he has to be “more of a pitcher than a thrower.”

“He is a big, physical, projectable young man who repeats his delivery well, which allows him to command his fastball well to both sides of the plate,” Scialabba said. “He complements his fastball with a solid-average curveball with swing-and-miss potential and is developing a feel for a changeup.”

At Hagerstown, Watson recorded a 4.80 ERA while going five innings in each of his three starts.

“I’ve got to keep the ball low and know when to use which pitches,” Watson said.

CAPITAL GAINS

• Triple-A Syracuse announced to its shareholders a $67,108 profit for 2016, according to the Syracuse Post-Standard. The team had reported at least $169,000 in losses each of the previous three seasons.

• Auburn, N.Y., native Adam Winslow has started a second stint as general manager of the Doubledays, reported the Auburn Citizen. He also was the franchise’s GM from September 2011 to May 2013.

— Lacy Lusk is a writer based in Virginia