Zach Watson

Watson attended West Ouachita High School in West Monroe, Louisiana where he played baseball. He played shortstop and was the team's closer.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_6f816162-10e8-11e7-b585-63342b68d144.html|title=LSU freshman outfielder Zach Watson hasn't looked back since getting an opportunity|date=March 24, 2017 |publisher=theadvocate.com|access-date=May 12, 2018}} As a senior, he batted .481 with ten home runs, 46 RBIs, and 18 doubles and was named the All-Northeast Louisiana Big School Offensive Player of the Year for the third year in a row as West Ouachita finished as the Class 4A state runner-up.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/06/04/watson-triples-nela-player-year/85421374/|title=Watson triples as All-NELA Player of the Year|publisher=News Star|access-date=May 12, 2018}} He was not drafted out of high school in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft and he enrolled at Louisiana State University where he played college baseball for the LSU Tigers.

As a freshman at LSU, Watson transitioned to the outfield and began playing mainly center field.{{cite web|url=https://www.seccountry.com/lsu/sec-baseball-lsu-freshman-zach-watson|title=SEC baseball looking elementary for LSU freshman CF Zach Watson|publisher=SEC Country|access-date=May 12, 2018}} He started the season as a bench player and did not start his first game until March 11, when he went 3-for-4 with one home run and four RBIs, earning him the starting center field job.{{cite web|url=http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=211710591|title=IN FOCUS: Zach Watson|publisher=lsusports.net|access-date=May 12, 2018}} He was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on May 8 after going 5-for-10 with four RBIs and a .583 on-base percentage in three games versus South Carolina.{{cite web|url=https://www.seccountry.com/lsu/sec-names-lsu-cf-zach-watson-freshman-week|title=SEC names LSU CF Zach Watson freshman of the week|publisher=SEC Country|access-date=May 12, 2018}} Watson finished the season batting .317 with nine home runs, 37 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 64 games, earning him a spot on the 2017 Freshman All-SEC Team.{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2017/05/7_lsu_players_honored_on_all-s.html|title=7 LSU players honored on All-SEC baseball teams|date=May 23, 2017 |publisher=nola.com|access-date=May 12, 2018}} In the 2017 NCAA tournament, he batted .333 with five home runs, ten RBIs, four steals, and 12 runs in 12 games,{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/lsu/Article/freshman-All-America-honors-for-LSU-Tigers-baseball-players-Zach-53496647|title=More freshman All-America honors for Watson and Walker|publisher=247sports.com|access-date=May 12, 2018}} and he was named to the 2017 College World Series All-Tournament team.{{cite web|url=http://www.omaha.com/sports/cws/cws-blog/florida-s-alex-faedo-named-cws-most-outstanding-player-all/article_98d57ff2-5bb2-11e7-93e6-e3a9ebe652bb.html|title=Florida's Alex Faedo named CWS most outstanding player; all-tournament team released|date=June 27, 2017 |publisher=Omaha World-Herald|access-date=May 12, 2018}} After the season, Watson was named a Freshman All-American by Perfect Game, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, and D1Baseball.com.{{cite web|url=http://www.lsunow.com/daily/zach-watson-emerging-as-leader-in-second-season/article_3d9ce57e-11d0-11e8-b86e-fb95925b4756.html|title=Zach Watson emerging as leader in second season|date=February 17, 2018 |publisher=The Daily Reveille|access-date=May 12, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.seccountry.com/lsu/lsu-zach-watson-eric-walker|title=LSU baseball: Eric Walker, Zach Watson named freshmen All-Americans|publisher=SEC Country|access-date=May 12, 2018}} That summer, he played in the Northwoods League for the Rockford Rivets where he batted .342 with two home runs, 14 RBIs, four doubles, and 11 runs scored in 38 at-bats, earning him the title of number one prospect in the league.{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2017/09/five_lsu_players_named_to_base.html|title=Five LSU players named to Baseball America top summer league prospects list|date=September 2, 2017 |publisher=nola.com|access-date=May 12, 2018}}

Prior to the 2018 season, Watson was named a preseason All-American by Perfect Game, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, and D1Baseball.com.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_5b92aa60-005e-11e8-9698-8fb1976303d9.html|title=Zach Watson earns third preseason All-American honor, this one from D1 Baseball|date=January 23, 2018 |publisher=theadvocate.com|access-date=May 12, 2018}} He was also considered a top prospect for the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_bf3750ac-df61-11e7-a8ee-f38ec5cbf3f2.html|title=LSU places three on Baseball America's Top 100 College Draft Prospects|date=December 12, 2017 |publisher=theadvocate.com|access-date=May 12, 2018}} He returned as LSU's starting center fielder to begin the season, but missed nine games from late February to early March to a strained oblique muscle suffered during LSU's first series of the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2018/03/zach_watson_gives_lsu_baseball.html|title=Zach Watson gives LSU baseball boost in return to field|date=March 7, 2018 |publisher=nola.com|access-date=May 12, 2018}} He was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team and won an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove.{{cite web|url=http://www.secsports.com/article/23563436/2018-sec-baseball-awards-announced|title=2018 SEC Baseball Awards announced|publisher=Southeastern Conference|access-date=June 3, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_f6754d42-7513-11e8-96bc-5304d56df826.html|title=LSU outfielder Zach Watson wins ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove award|date=June 21, 2018 |publisher=The Advocate|access-date=April 8, 2019}} Watson finished his sophomore year batting .308 with seven home runs, 34 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases in 57 games (all starts).{{cite web|url=http://www.lsureveille.com/daily/return-of-several-veterans-sets-lsu-baseball-team-up-for/article_5303c896-6e6f-11e8-83a3-9302d7b9822f.html|title=Return of several veterans sets 2019 LSU baseball team up for another trip to Omaha|date=June 13, 2018 |publisher=The Daily Reveille|access-date=April 8, 2019}} He was chosen in the 40th and last round of the draft by the Boston Red Sox but did not sign.{{cite news |title=Six Tigers selected on Day 3 of MLB Draft |url=http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=211717956 |access-date=June 16, 2018 |work=LSUsports.net |date=June 6, 2018}} He played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team that summer{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_2d20c958-70e0-11e8-8b17-f3896b69d486.html |title=See where LSU baseball players and signees are heading for summer ball | LSU |publisher=theadvocate.com |date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=November 8, 2019}} along with playing for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=1278723&seasonid=31242 |title=Zach Watson |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=August 12, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/sports/article_01e52bdb-f7fa-5a87-a90e-64c92c992857.html |title=LSU CF Zach Watson entering 2019 with new approach and greater expectations | Sports |publisher=nola.com |date=January 31, 2019 |access-date=November 8, 2019}} In 2019, Watson's junior year at LSU, he hit .308 with seven home runs, 42 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in 60 games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wafb.com/2019/06/20/lsu-center-fielder-zach-watson-earns-back-to-back-gold-glove-awards/|title=LSU center fielder Zach Watson earns back-to-back Gold Glove awards|first=Josh|last=Auzenne|website=www.wafb.com|date=June 20, 2019 }} He earned a Gold Glove and was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team for the second consecutive year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wafb.com/2019/05/21/tigers-earn-sec-baseball-honors/|title=3 Tigers earn SEC Baseball honors|first=Kirk|last=Michelet|website=www.wafb.com|date=May 21, 2019 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_8dfde6cc-92f7-11e9-9e97-fffd13983b5f.html |title=LSU center fielder Zach Watson earns Gold Glove award for 2nd straight year | LSU |publisher=theadvocate.com |date=June 19, 2019 |access-date=November 8, 2019}}

Watson was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the third round, with the 79th overall pick, of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft and he signed for $780,400.{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_67add0ee-86eb-11e9-bebb-cf7e45d9af1d.html |title=LSU center fielder, Ruston native Zach Watson taken by Orioles in 3rd round of MLB Draft | LSU |publisher=theadvocate.com |date=June 4, 2019 |access-date=November 8, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-gunnar-henderson-20190626-story.html|title=Orioles' selection of Gunnar Henderson made his little brother's pajamas a perfect fit|first=Nathan|last=Ruiz|website=baltimoresun.com|date=June 26, 2019 }} He made his professional debut with the Aberdeen IronBirds of the Low–A New York–Penn League before being promoted to the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Single–A South Atlantic League in July. A wrist injury ended his season prematurely in August.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-zach-watson-shut-down-for-season/ |title=Orioles' Zach Watson: Shut down for season |publisher=CBSSports.com |date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=November 8, 2019}} Over 36 games between the two clubs, he hit .226 with five home runs, 17 RBIs, and five stolen bases.

Watson did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | last=Adler | first=David | title=2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled | website=MLB.com | date=2020-06-30 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled | access-date=2025-02-16}} To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to Aberdeen, now members of the High-A East.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimorebaseball.com/2021/04/30/rutschman-begin-bowie-henderson-goes-delmarva-galvis-franco-healing/|title=Rutschman to begin at Bowie; Henderson goes to Delmarva; Galvis, Franco healing|first=Rich|last=Dubroff|date=April 30, 2021}} He was promoted to the Bowie Baysox of the Double-A Northeast in mid-July.{{Cite web|url=https://jacksonparishjournal.com/2021/07/20/baltimore-orioles-promote-zach-watson-to-class-aa-affiliate/|title=Baltimore Orioles promote Zach Watson to Class AA affiliate|date=July 21, 2021|website=Jackson Parish Journal}} Over 105 games between the two clubs, Watson slashed .248/.294/.468 with 21 home runs, 66 RBIs and 24 stolen bases.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-minors-zach-watson-20-20-season-20210912-3x4pyjnemjc5pd36j53azsoaxe-story.html|title=Orioles prospect Zach Watson secures a rare 20-20 season: 'He's got a lot of bat speed for a little guy'|first=Jon|last=Meoli|website=baltimoresun.com|date=September 12, 2021 }} He returned to Bowie for the 2022 season.{{Cite web |date=April 4, 2022 |title=Orioles Announce Break Camp Roster for Baysox |url=https://www.milb.com/chesapeake/news/orioles-announce-break-camp |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=MiLB.com}} Over 95 games, he batted .199 with eight home runs, 32 RBIs, and five stolen bases.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/zach-watson-668789 | title=Zach Watson Stats, Fantasy & News }}

Watson began the 2023 season back in Bowie, his third straight season with the affiliate. In 52 games, he batted .209/.265/.396 with 8 home runs, 31 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. On July 10, 2023, Watson was released by the Orioles organization.{{Cite web|title=Bradfield: "I have no concerns about going up to the next level and not having success"|url=https://www.masnsports.com/blog/bradfield|access-date=July 13, 2023|website=masnsports.com|date=July 10, 2023 |language=en}}

On August 5, 2023, Watson signed with the Lexington Counter Clocks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{cite web | url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/ | title=Transactions – Atlantic League Pro Baseball }}

{{reflist}}

{{baseballstats|brm=watson001zac}}

• [http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211145621&DB_OEM_ID=5200 LSU Tigers bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Zach}}

Category:1997 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Ruston, Louisiana

Category:Baseball players from Louisiana

Category:Baseball outfielders

Category:LSU Tigers baseball players

Category:Aberdeen IronBirds players

Category:Harwich Mariners players

Category:Bowie Baysox players

Category:Lexington Counter Clocks players

Category:Rockford Rivets players

Category:Delmarva Shorebirds players