Former Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Tony Watson announced his retirement from baseball after an 11-year career that also included stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants and L.A. Angels.
Watson was selected by the Pirates in the ninth round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and would make his big league debut four years later. The left-hander spent parts of seven seasons with the club and earned his only All-Star selection in 2014, when he posted a career-best 1.63 ERA across 78 appearances.
Watson was traded to the Dodgers at the non-waiver deadline in 2017 and emerged as a key contributor down the stretch, posting a 2.70 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 24 games. He additionally tossed six scoreless innings in the National League Championship Series and World Series.
Watson then spent the next three seasons with the Giants, where he continued pitching at a high level. He began the 2021 season with the Angels until San Francisco re-acquired him at the MLB trade deadline.
As he transitions to the next chapter in his life, the soon-to-be 37-year-old thanked his former organizations, fans, family and friends in a statement, via Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic:
“Thank you to all my teammates, peers, coaches, and support staff for all the cherished memories along the way, for providing support to keep me on the field, and experiences that will last a lifetime,” Watson said in a statement. “Thank you to the Pirates, Dodgers, Giants, and Angels organizations and their fans for the support and opportunity to live out a childhood dream. Thank you to my wife and kids for being with me every step of the way and to my family and friends for always being there and supporting me through it all.”
Watson originally hoped to continue his career this year but shoulder issues led him to announcing his retirement. In 11 MLB seasons, he went 47-29 with a 2.90 ERA, 3.59 FIP and 1.08 WHIP across 689 appearances.
Watson retires as all-time leader in holds
Watson passed Arthur Rhodes last season to become MLB’s all-time leader in holds with 246, which is an unofficial stat that has been recorded since 1999.
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