Ryan Watson

Ryan Traylor Watson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 5", Weight 225 lb.
• School Auburn University
• High School Auburn (AL) High School
• Debut March 28, 2026

• Born November 15, 1997 in Auburn, AL USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Ryan Watson was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 39th round of the 2016 amateur draft coming out of high school, but he did not sign, going on to attend Auburn University instead. By the time he graduated in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was raging across the world, and the 2020 amateur draft had been reduced to just five rounds. He was one of numerous players who fell through the cracks as a result, and his only option was to sign as an amateur free agent with the Baltimore Orioles after the draft, with his signing bonus reduced to a bare minimum.

He pitched in the Orioles system from 2021 to 2024, including a full season in AAA with the Norfolk Tides in 2023, when he went 4-5, 5.95 in 34 games as a swingman. In 2024, he pitched for the Orioles in both AA and AAA, then on August 9th, his contract was sold to the San Francisco Giants. He pitched one game on a rehabilitation assignment in Low-A before finishing the year back in AAA with the Sacramento RiverCats. His record between the four teams for which he appeared that season was 3-1, 2.83 in 28 games, all in relief with 2 saves. In 2025, he spent a full season at Sacramento, going 4-3, 4.26 with 9 saves in 46 relief outings. He also struck out 64 batters in 50 2/3 innings.

By then, it was just a matter of time before a team would give him a look at the major league level, and that team happened to be the Boston Red Sox. He had been left exposed in the 2025 Rule V Draft and The Athletics plucked him, then in what was likely a pre-arranged deal, flipped him to the Red Sox in return for minor league 2B Justin Riemer. He made the Sox out of spring training and got to pitch for the first time in the Show on March 28, 2026, with 2 1/3 hitless and scoreless innings of relief in a 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. he did walk three batters while striking out one, but it was still a good debut for him.

Related Sites

• Ryan Watson on mlb.com
• Auburn University bio