• Tickets Donate Shop
  • Auctions Live Video Free Audio
  • Photo Galleries Enews Photo Store Ad
News   Coaches   Roster    Schedule/Results   Stats  
Tony Watson
# 30
Left-Handed Pitcher - LHP
Height: 6-4  Weight: 190
Freshman
Bats:  Throws:  L
Previous Affiliations
   Dallas-Center Grimes
Previous Experience
  
Grimes, Iowa
Printable Page

Courtesy: NU Media Relations
Release: 02/07/2007
  • 2007 Clemens and Wallace Award Watch Lists
  • 2007 Preseason All-American (Collegiate Baseball NCBWA and Rivals.com)
  • 2006 MLB 17th-round Draft Pick (Baltimore)
  • 2006 Third-Team All-American (CB and NCBWA)
  • 2006 First-Team All-Big 12
  • 2006 Cape Cod League All-Star
  • 2005 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American
  • 2003 MLB 23rd-round Draft Pick (Florida)

2007 Outlook: Tony Watson looks to become just the second left-hander in school history to earn first-team All-America honors • Earned third-team accolades from Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) in 2006, going 10-2 with a 2.78 ERA • Hard-throwing left-hander who consistently works in the upper 80s and low 90s with a quality assortment of pitches • Has exceptional poise and maturity on the mound and has taken more of a leadership role in 2007 • Showed his ability against some of the top college players in the country over the summer, going 5-2 with a 2.44 ERA and 46 strikeouts over 48 innings in the prestigious Cape Cod League • Rated by Baseball America as the No. 13 prospect in the Cape Cod League • Is a proven winner, posting a 16-3 record with a 2.79 ERA in his two seasons at NU • Drafted in the 17th round the Baltimore Orioles, but elected to return to Nebraska for his junior season.

2006: Watson was one of the most consistent pitchers in the conference, earning All-America and All-Big 12 honors in 2006 • Posted a 10-2 mark with a 2.87 ERA in a team-high 100.1 innings of work • Ranked among the Big 12 leaders in nearly every pitching category, including ERA (third), wins (fourth), opponent batting average (.236, fifth), innings (seventh) and strikeouts (11th) • Went at least six innings in 12 of his 15 starts, including a complete-game five-hitter against Texas A&M on April 14 • Allowed one earned run or less in seven of his 15 starts • Suffered the loss in the NCAA Tournament against San Francisco on June 2, allowing one earned run on five hits over 6.2 innings of work • Worked out of the bullpen in the Big 12 Tournament, going 2-0 without allowing an earned run in 5.2 innings of work, highlighted by 5.1 innings of four-hit, four strikeout ball against No. 6 Texas on May 27 • Was 5-1 with a 3.72 ERA in nine Big 12 starts, tying for fifth in wins and seventh in innings pitched (58.0) and strikeouts (38) • Held No. 13 Oklahoma to one run on eight hits over 6.1 innings of work in a 10-4 Husker win on May 20 • Saw his personal 12-game win streak snapped in a 4-1 loss at Baylor on May 13, his first loss in 18 starts • Overcame a rocky start to earn the win over Texas Tech on April 29, as he allowed four runs in the first inning before holding the Red Raiders scoreless from the second to the sixth and fanning six in a 14-4 victory • Lasted just 2.1 innings in a start against No. 5 Texas on April 22, allowing season highs in both hits (nine) and runs (four), but got a no-decision as NU rallied to win 7-5 • Tossed the first complete game of his career in a win over Texas A&M on April 14, scattering five hits and fanning six in a 4-3 Husker win • Turned in a spectacular performance in a no-decision at Missouri on April 8, allowing one earned run on three hits over 7.2 innings in a dual against eventual first-round draft pick Max Scherzer • Left with a 2-1 lead in a game NU won in 13 innings • Held Kansas State to three runs on eight hits over 7.1 innings in a 5-4 victory over the Wildcats on April 1 • Overcame early wildness to turn in a dominant effort against Kansas on March 25, allowing one run on three hits while striking out a career-high 10 Jayhawks over seven innings • Combined with Luke Wertz on a two-hit shutout of South Dakota State on March 17, allowing two singles while striking out six in a 10-0 victory  • Matched up with Alabama’s Wade LeBlanc on March 10 and turned in a strong effort, allowing one run on five hits over six innings as NU eventually won 2-1 in 11 innings • Was solid in a no-decision against Arizona, allowing one run on four hits over 6.1 innings, as he matched his then-career best with eight strikeouts • Established then-career bests in both strikeouts (eight) and innings (seven) in earning the win over Texas State on Feb. 24, allowing three runs in a 10-3 victory • Turned in a strong outing in the opener, holding Charleston Southern to one run over six innings in NU’s 11-1 win on Feb. 16.

2005: Watson put together a strong rookie campaign in 2005, earning Freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball • Compiled a 6-1 record with a 2.82 ERA in 23 appearances, holding opponents to a .246 average • Fanned 39 over 44.2 innings, including a career-high six batters in a relief appearance against Northern Iowa in Des Moines on April 20 • Made 18 of his 23 appearances in relief, recording two holds and a 1.19 ERA • Pitched exclusively in relief during the NCAA Tournament, allowing only one hit in three appearances • Collected his first career save against Creighton in the NCAA Regional on June 4, retiring the only batter he faced in a 10-8 Husker win • Pitched twice during the Big 12 Tournament, earning the victory over No. 17 Missouri by going a season-high 5.1 innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out four Tigers • Made five relief appearances in Big 12 play, not allowing an earned run, while scattering just two hits over five shutout frames • Had his best outing during conference play at Kansas on March 26, firing three innings of one-hit ball • Picked up three wins in his four regular-season starts, as he went 5.0 innings against Northern Colorado on March 18 and against Northern Illinois on May 17 • Allowed two runs on four hits while striking out four against NIU • Fanned four over two scoreless innings in front of a crowd of over 20,000 against Creighton at Rosenblatt Stadium on May 10 • Turned in one of his best outings of the year against Northern Iowa at Des Moines’ Principal Park on April 20, allowing one unearned run over 4.2 innings while striking out six Panthers, as NU rallied from a 4-1 deficit to win 7-4 • Tossed two innings of no-hit relief to earn the win against Western Illinois on March 23 • Earned the victory in NU’s 5-2 win over Northern Colorado on March 16, allowing two runs on three hits • Suffered his only loss against No. 18 USC on March 6, allowing a two-run homer to eventual first-round pick Jeff Clement • Earned a victory in his Husker debut at Hawaii-Hilo on Feb. 19, allowing one run on two hits in 3.1 innings of relief.

2004: Watson took a medical redshirt after undergoing shoulder surgery in January of 2004 for a torn labrum.

Dallas Center-Grimes High School: Watson was one of the Midwest’s top pitching prospects at Dallas Center-Grimes High School for Coach Byron Peyton • Drafted in the 23rd round by the Florida Marlins • Totaled a 29-9 record and 513 strikeouts, the eighth-highest total in Iowa high school baseball history • His strikeout total was the most by an Iowa high school pitcher since major leaguer Cal Eldred recorded 743 strikeouts from 1983 to 1986 • Was nearly unhittable as a senior in 2003, going 9-0 with three saves and a miniscule 0.10 ERA, striking out 148 hitters in 69 innings • Displayed pinpoint control, tossing three no-hitters while equaling or setting state records for fewest walks (min. 65 IP) with 10 and lowest single-season ERA (0.10) • Allowed one earned run and 31 hits during his senior campaign • Selected as a first-team Super State selection by the Iowa High School Coaches Association and was the 2003 Class 3A recipient of the Bob Feller Award, given to the top pitcher in each high school class • Was a three-time all-district and All-Raccoon River Conference selection, compiling an 11-1 mark with a 0.63 ERA as a junior en route to second-team all-state honors • Fanned 155 and allowed just 31 hits in 77 innings of work while his only loss was a 1-0 setback to Carlisle • earned five letters in baseball, while also garnering three letters in both football and basketball • Looked at Wichita State, Texas A&M, San Diego and Northern Iowa before choosing NU.

Personal: Born on May 30, 1985, in Sioux City, Iowa • Parents are Steve and the late Angie Watson • Has one sister (Ashley) • Is a sociology major.

Nebraska Baseball
Advertisement

Sign up to receive exclusive
Nebraska Huskers email updates
Current Bid: $250
Huskers.com Auction
Football Signed by a Hall-of-Fame Player and Coach
Current Bid: $225
Huskers.com Auction
Football Signed by a Hall-of-Fame Player and Coach
Current Bid: $250
Huskers.com Auction
Football Signed by a Hall-of-Fame Player and Coach
Current Bid: $2500
Huskers.com Auction
Rare Spring Game Experience for Four
1995 Championship Season Box Set
Eric Newman
#29
Position: Assistant Coach
Recruiting
No. 1 Reason Recruits Choose NU – Coaches
Atmosphere, tradition, strength program, academic support and life skills...
Academic Tradition
Husker Academic Tradition Thrives in 2008-09
Nebraska has a nation-leading total of 269 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.
Olympic Athlete
Walk-on Tomasevicz Now Olympic Bobsled Favorite
Shelby native and NU letterman and his teammates eye gold in Vancouver's...
Famous Fan
Famous Comedian Is Also a Favorite Husker Fan
Dan Whitney is better known by his stage name, Larry the Cable Guy.
Randy York's N-Sider
Brook Berringer’s Legend Goes Beyond Football
Tom Osborne and Ron Brown tell why quarterback was so special.
Life Skills
Student-Athletes Serve Others with Heart
Sharing develops character and gives Huskers skills for life.
Milestone Game
Our House is a Very, Very, Very Fine House
Watch 300th Sellout Videos, Including Tunnel Walk and Special Messages
Traditional Rivals
Traditional Rivals
Nebraska and Oklahoma, respected rivals, have 1,618 combined wins.
Hall of Fame Honors
Tyrance Earns Spot in Academic All-America Hall
Omaha surgeon joins Karen Jennings and Dave Rimington in Hall of Fame.
NCAA Champions
National Bowling Title a 10 in Every Way
Bill Straub's eighth NCAA women's title at Nebraska made national...
Recruiting
Pepin Hits Recruiting Trail as Hard as Ever
The Big 12's most decorated head coach has been a salesman for decades.
Recruiting
Husker Recruiting Class Ranked No. 2 Nationally
Prepvolleyball.com has ranked Nebraska's incoming recruiting class No. 2.
All-American
Hill Named First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American
Senior pitcher Molly Hill is one of 11 players named to national team.
Randy York's N-Sider
Belief, Love Define Amanda Gates story
Amanda Gates came out of nowhere to experience a classic Nebraska success story.
Academic Honors
Gates, Sullivan Selected for Big 12 Postgraduate..
Huskers Amanda Gates and Nick Sullivan were among 24 Big 12 student-athletes...
Previous Next