Tony Watson

[BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA]

From the way he is tearing up the Cape Cod league he may get the "third round" signing bonus he hoped for and may be headed pro. One sign of hope is if he wants to parlay this into coming back at a chance to be a first rounder in next years draft.

 

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A no-lose situation for NU pitcher

 

BY MITCH SHERMAN

 

 

 

 

WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

 

 

LINCOLN - The Baltimore Orioles are getting serious about trying to sign Nebraska pitcher Tony Watson.

 

 

Tony Watson is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA, 20 strikeouts and four walks in 20 innings for Harwich.

 

Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan said Friday that he plans to observe Watson soon in the Cape Cod League and extend a final contract offer to the 6-foot-4 left-hander.

 

"I've got interest in signing him," Jordan said. "I'd like to try to get this done, probably by the middle of July."

 

Baltimore selected Watson in the 17th round of the major league baseball draft on June 6 after the 21-year-old from Grimes, Iowa, was projected to go as high as the third round. Watson slipped to a lower position in part because of concerns about his signability as a third-year sophomore.

 

He has helped his cause so far this summer, starting 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA, 20 strikeouts and four walks in 20 innings for the Harwich (Mass.) Mariners. Opponents are hitting .143 against him.

 

"He's our No. 1 guy and one of the top pitchers up here at the whole Cape," Harwich manager Steve Englert said. "I love the kid. He came up here to compete. And he's so fluid and easy."

 

Watson finished 10-2 with a 2.78 ERA and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors at Nebraska last spring. His return atop the Huskers' pitching staff would solidify a weekend rotation already expected to include Johnny Dorn and Charlie Shirek.

 

"Charlie and Johnny are pretty good options, but to have Tony, Charlie and Johnny would be incredible," Nebraska coach Mike Anderson said. "We're going to be OK, but we have the chance to be great if Tony's with us."

 

Before his Cape Cod League debut, Watson said he remained hopeful to sign this summer but that he would return to Lincoln as a junior unless the Orioles made him a significant offer.

 

Signing bonuses for a third-round pick vary from about $350,000 to $500,000.

 

Watson, with his performance in Harwich, may actually turn himself into something more than a third-round pick. The Cape Cod League, in fact, has served as a launching ground for many future first-round draftees, including ex-Husker Darin Erstad.

 

"He deserves to be considered a first- to third-round type pick," Anderson said. "What goes with that is money. If (Baltimore) is willing to do that now, he probably won't be a Husker."

 

Watson is allowed to negotiate with the Orioles until Aug. 21, the first day of fall semester classes at NU. But Jordan said he would not allow talks to last that long "out of respect" for Nebraska.

 

The loss of Watson this month would hurt the Huskers; NU would stand almost no chance to replace his scholarship if Watson signed a pro contract in August.

 

"We'd also like to get him started in our (minor league) system," Jordan said. "I'll just say that we're following him very closely. We've seen every one of his starts. I will probably see him myself, if not in his next start, the one following that.

 

"I want to make the call here within the next 10 days."

 

Englert compared Watson's situation to that of Tim Lincecum, the ace of the Harwich pitching staff last year. Cleveland drafted Lincecum in the 42nd round a year ago and offered him a reported $800,000 after his dominating summer season.

 

Lincecum turned it down to return to Washington for his junior season. He was drafted No. 10 overall in the first round last month by San Francisco and received a signing bonus of more than $2 million.

 

"I could see Tony doing the same kind of thing," Englert said.

 

• NOTES: Anderson said Nebraska shortstop Ryan Wehrle has joined the Bourne (Mass.) Braves of the Cape Cod League after resting his knees for a month following the draft. Wehrle was selected in the 18th round by Cincinnati. He discussed a contract with the Reds, but Anderson said he would be "shocked" if Wehrle did not return as a junior to Nebraska. . . . A shoulder injury has sidelined NU infielder Jake Mort from recent play with the Beatrice Bruins. Outfielder Nick Jaros will not play this summer while recovering from a broken arm, Anderson said.

[Eric the Red]

All-Big 12 Husker baseball pitcher Tony Watson will be back next season... :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2 :horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2 :horns2 :horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2 :horns2 :horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2 :horns2 :horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2 :horns2 :horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2 :horns2 :horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2 :horns2 :horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2 :horns2 :horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2 :horns2 :horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2 :horns2 :horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2 :horns2 :horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2 :horns2 :horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2:horns2

[DJR313]

Thanks Eric, you just triggered my epilepsy.

[pigsonthewing]

looks like a metallica concert up there..

[hootin' annie's goatfarm]

hello, terrific news about tony watson, eric. I am beginning to believe that '07 will be a cws type of yr, especially now w/ watson's return, & a healthy gerch

[TrueHuskerFan20]

That makes our weekend rotation look pretty damn good again this year!!

[BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA]

Awesome news! He'll make a great number one and be the backbone of the staff. If he improves on this year the first round might not be unreasonable.