Skip to main content

RHP prospect Watson returns to action after 22 months

ShaneWatson
Shane Watson, image- Jay Floyd
For the first time since Independence Day 2013 righty pitcher Shane Watson took the mound in a game on Tuesday.

The Phillies' top draft selection (40th overall) in 2012, Watson was sidelined with a shoulder ailment in the middle of what was a pretty good campaign (4-7, 4.44 ERA, .230 BAA) for a player in his first full professional season with Class A Lakewood. The injury would result in two surgeries along with 22 months of downtime and rehab.

Finally back to full health, Watson took the mound for the Phillies' extended spring training team, tossing an inning against the XST Yankees. According to the 21-year-old, he was satisfied with his effort.

"Went great," said Watson. "I think I was 88-92 (MPH), gave up some base knocks, but that was expected since I was throwing only fastballs."

The six-foot-four 200-pounder threw one inning and is expected to appear in a game again with the extended spring club in five or six days.

The game marked a personal landmark for Watson, who took the field with his childhood friend and teammate, Phils top prospect shortstop J.P. Crawford, who is rehabbing a strained oblique and is expected to be activated for the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers on Wednesday.

Watson is currently serving a 50-game suspension for a positive banned substance test last year.

According to Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan, the team hopes to have Watson return to Lakewood this summer.

*UPDATE*  The plan for Watson is to have him make more five more starts with the extended spring team, stretching out his endurance.  If things progress well, look for him to make an official season debut during the second week of June.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mike McGuire Living a Dream With Favorite Team

LAKEWOOD, NJ- Every young ballplayer grows up wishing he could play for his favorite team. Mike McGuire has an opportunity to do just that after signing with the Phillies organization in July. McGuire was a 43rd round draft pick taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 2008 amateur draft out of the University of Delaware. Early scouting reports liked McGuire's abilities, despite some arm trouble. He advanced as far as High A Level Kinston last season. While there, he posted an 0-3 record with a 5.46 ERA in 9 games, 8 of which were starts. The Indians weren't happy with McGuire's efforts this spring and released him. McGuire caught on with the Sussex Skyhawks of the independent Can-Am League, where he stayed in shape and pitched against other formerly affiliated minor leaguers. As a starter with the Skyhawks, McGuire went 3-4 with a 5.29 ERA in 8 outings. From there, just as all players in those independent leagues hope for, the 24-year-old McGuire got noticed. The Phillies wer...

Harry's Plaque Has Misprint

At the ballpark today for the first time since Harry Kalas was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame on Friday, I noticed an error in the text on his plaque. Verbage on the plaque reads like this... Voice of Phillies baseball on radio and TV for 39 seasons. Teamed with Richie Ashburn from 1971 until 1997. Harry was on the air for all of Mike Schmidt's 548 home runs, five Phillies no-hitters, seven National League Championship Series, three World Series, the first and final games at Veterans Stadium and the Citizens Bank Park 2004 opener. Received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award in 2002 for "Major Contributions to Baseball" and was inducted into the broadcasters' wing at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. His calls were legendary, especially his signature home run call, "Outta heeere." On October 29, 2008, he brought utmost joy to Phillies fans: "The 0-2 pitch, swing and miss , struck him out. The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 Worl...

Series Preview: Braves @ Phillies 5/7-5/9

The Braves make their first visit to Philadelphia this weekend, as the Braves (12-16) will face the Phillies (17-11) in a 3-game series. The series opener will see the 2nd meeting of Derek Lowe and Jamie Moyer this season. The first match up saw Moyer come out on top, when he pitched 6 shut out innings in Atlanta. That win clinched the series victory for the Phils. Off to a good start after winning that series opener against the Phils, the Braves have lost 11 of 15 games since then. The Braves won 5 of the 9 games against the Phils at Citizens Bank Park last season. Atlanta is currently in last place, 5 games behind the division leading Phillies. Read ahead for pitching match ups and other key stats from this series. Friday, 7:05pm. Derek Lowe (4-2, 5.81 ERA) vs. Jamie Moyer (3-2, 5.70 ERA). Lowe is 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA in five career starts at Citizens Bank Park. Lowe is 6-2 with a 2.87 ERA in 15 career games against Philadelphia. Raul Ibanez is 2-for-28 (.071 avg) in his career again...