For the second time, Enumclaw’s Dylan Watts heard his named called during Major League Baseball’s annual amateur draft. This time, he followed the professional path.
Watts, a 2022 graduate of Enumclaw High, was chosen July 14 by the Toronto Blue Jays. He was taken in the seventh round, No. 202 overall.
“We were a bit surprised,” said his mom, Jennifer, who allowed that conventional wisdom had her son being chosen perhaps in the 10th round. There was no doubt, however, that MLB would come calling.
From the moment he was drafted, life moved quickly for the right-handed relief pitcher, who turned 21 years old the day after Toronto plucked Watts from the collegiate ranks.
On July 16 he landed in Tampa, Florida, home of the Blue Jays’ Player Development Complex. Evaluations were done and a pro contract was inked on July 18.
Jennifer Watts said it’s expected Dylan will reside at the Gulf Coast complex for the remainder of the summer, before being assigned to one of Toronto’s minor league affiliates next season.
After a stellar career at Enumclaw High (league MVP as a senior), Watts stayed close to home, spending a season at Tacoma Community College. There, he struck out 61 batters over the course of 32 appearances and 58 innings, posting a 3-0 record and a miniscule 0.23 earned-run average.
He chose to remain on the collegiate path, despite being selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round of the MLB draft.
Watts, a born-and-raised Enumclaw product, then made a cross-country decision and accepted Auburn University’s invitation to join the Tiger program. Squaring off against Southeastern Conference competition, he spent two years in an Auburn uniform.
While his numbers might not jump off the page (a 7.39 ERA during the recent season), the Blue Jays saw something more. The following is from the bluejaysnation.com website:
“The right-hander is incredibly athletic on the mound with high-octane stuff that should result in swing and miss as he becomes more refined at the professional level.
“Stuff wise, Watts has an electric fastball that he rides in the mid-90s and touches 99, while mixing in a high-80s slider that he uses to get whiffs. It’s a classic two-pitch mix of a late-inning reliever who’s going out there to simply blow it by you for an inning. Standing in at 6’4”, 195 pounds, Watts has a long, lanky frame and generates really good extension as he drives down the mound upon releasing his ball, which will make his already high velo fastball play even more in terms of perceived velocity.”
