Spenser David Watkins (born August 27, 1992) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

for the

TSG Hawks The TSG Hawks () are a professional baseball team in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in Taiwan. The team is owned by Taiwan Steel Group and was formed in 2022 as part of the CPBL expansion. The Hawks play their home games at C ...

of the

Chinese Professional Baseball League The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL; ) is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989 and played the first season in 1990. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 20 ...

(CPBL). He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

and

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...

. Watkins was drafted by the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

in the 30th round of the

2014 MLB draft The 2014 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 5 through June 7, 2014, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The first two rounds were conducted on June 5, followed by rounds three through ten on June 6, and the last 30 round ...

Career

Detroit Tigers

Watkins attended Horizon High School in

Scottsdale, Arizona Scottsdale is a city in eastern Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, and is part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Named Scottsdale in 1894 after its founder Winfield Scott (chaplain), Winfield Scott, a retired Chaplain Corps (United States ...

. He was drafted by the

out of

Western Oregon University Western Oregon University (WOU) is a public university in Monmouth, Oregon, United States. It was originally established in 1856 by Disciples of Christ pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names included Oregon State Normal School, Oreg ...

in the 30th round, 910th overall, of the

2014 Major League Baseball draft The 2014 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 5 through June 7, 2014, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The first two rounds were conducted on June 5, followed by rounds three through ten on June 6, and the last 30 round ...

. Watkins made his professional debut with the rookie-level

GCL Tigers The Florida Complex League Tigers are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Tigers. The team plays its home game ...

, posting a 3–2 record and 3.83 ERA in 10 games. He split the 2015 season between the Low-A

Connecticut Tigers The Norwich Sea Unicorns are a baseball team located in Norwich, Connecticut. From 2010 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL) as the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They play ...

and the Single-A

West Michigan Whitecaps The West Michigan Whitecaps are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Comstock Park, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, and play their home games at LMCU Ballpar ...

, accumulating a 5–4 record and 2.48 ERA in 16 games between the two teams. On April 18, 2016, Watkins was suspended 50 games after a second positive test of a drug of abuse. Once activated he spent time with the Double-A

Erie SeaWolves The Erie SeaWolves are an American professional baseball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. They compete in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) as a member of the Eastern League's Southwest Division, serving as the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Ti ...

and West Michigan, pitching to a 5–3 record and 3.97 ERA between the two teams. In 2017, Watkins split the season between the High-A

Lakeland Flying Tigers The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Lakeland, Florida, and play their home games at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. ...

and West Michigan, pitching to a cumulative 9–4 record and 3.53 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 109.2 innings of work. For the 2018 season, Watkins played with the Triple-A

Toledo Mud Hens The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A baseball team nicknamed the ...

, Erie, and Lakeland, logging a 10–7 record and 2.76 ERA in 27 appearances between the three clubs. In 2019, Watkins split time between Toledo, Erie, and Lakeland, struggling to a 6.07 ERA and 9–7 record with 121 strikeouts in 138.0 innings pitched. Watkins did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. On July 3, 2020, Watkins was released by the Tigers organization.

Baltimore Orioles

On February 2, 2021, Watkins signed a minor league contract with the

organization. Prior to signing with the Orioles, Watkins had been in line to take over as the head coach of the Paradise Valley High School freshman baseball team in

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

. He was assigned to the Triple-A

Norfolk Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's loc ...

to begin the season, where he worked as a starter and logged a 1–2 record and 3.58 ERA in 7 games (6 of them starts). On June 30, 2021, Watkins was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut on July 2, pitching a scoreless inning in relief against the

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...

. He also became the first player in franchise history to don the uniform number 80. On July 6, Watkins made his first career start against the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...

, earning his first ever win after pitching 5.0 innings of 1-run ball. In the game, Watkins also notched his first career strikeout, punching out Blue Jays outfielder

Randal Grichuk Randal Alexander Grichuk (born August 13, 1991) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Colorad ...

. Watkins was outrighted off of the 40-man roster on November 5 and elected free agency on November 7. On November 11, Watkins re-signed with the Orioles on a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training. On April 11, 2022, Watkins's contract was selected by the Orioles. Watkins made 23 appearances (20 starts) for the Orioles in 2022, recording a 5–6 record and 4.70 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 105.1 innings pitched. Watkins was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to begin the 2023 season. After struggling to a 7.27 ERA across 8 games (6 starts), Watkins was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

on June 20, after

Anthony Bemboom Anthony John Bemboom (born January 18, 1990) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels, and Baltimore Orioles. Career Amateur Bemboom graduated from ...

was added to the roster.

Houston Astros

On June 23, 2023, Watkins was traded to the

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major leag ...

in exchange for cash considerations. In 6 games (5 starts) for the Triple–A

Sugar Land Space Cowboys The Sugar Land Space Cowboys are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros Major League Baseball club. They are located in Sugar Land, Texas, part of the Greater Houston metro ...

, he struggled to a 9.74 ERA with 16 strikeouts in innings pitched. On August 6, Watkins was designated for assignment by Houston.

Oakland Athletics

On August 8, 2023, Watkins was claimed off waivers by the

. He made one start for Oakland, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts in innings pitched. On August 30, Watkins was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A

Las Vegas Aviators The Las Vegas Aviators, formerly known as the Las Vegas 51s and Las Vegas Stars, are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics. They are located in Summerlin South, Nevada, a comm ...

. On October 4, Watkins elected free agency.

Washington Nationals

On December 17, 2023, Watkins signed a minor league contract with the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...

. He had been close to a deal with a team in the

KBO League The KBO League () is a professional baseball league in South Korea. The league comprises ten teams. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are the most success ...

but decided to stay stateside due to the impending birth of his daughter. Watkins made 25 appearances (23 starts) for the Triple–A

Rochester Red Wings The Rochester Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Rochester, New York, and play their home games at Innovative Fie ...

, compiling a 7–7 record and 4.56 ERA with 92 strikeouts across innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 4.

TSG Hawks

On November 6, 2024, Watkins signed with the

of the

.https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/spenser-watkins-signs-with-cpbls-tsg-hawks.html

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watkins, Spenser 1992 births Living people American expatriate baseball players in Taiwan Baltimore Orioles players Baseball players from Phoenix, Arizona Connecticut Tigers players Erie SeaWolves players Glendale Gauchos baseball players Gulf Coast Tigers players Lakeland Flying Tigers players Las Vegas Aviators players Major League Baseball pitchers Norfolk Tides players Oakland Athletics players Rochester Red Wings players Sugar Land Space Cowboys players Toledo Mud Hens players TSG Hawks players West Michigan Whitecaps players Western Oregon Wolves baseball players