Tommy Watkins
Encyclopedia
Thomas Gray Watkins, Jr. (born June 18, 1980) is a Minor League
coach
in the Minnesota Twins
organization who appeared briefly with the Twins as a player toward the end of the season.
from Riverdale High School
in Fort Myers, Florida, and was a fan favorite during his two-year stint with the Twins' high A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle
(–). Watkins' popularity with Miracle fans translated into one of the more interesting promotions in minor league history when he was the subject of the "Tommy Watkins Bobble-Butt" late in the 2003 season.
It was while with the Miracle that Watkins became more of a utility player. In 2002, he made 41 appearances at shortstop
, 33 at third base
, 19 at second base
and three in the outfield
. In 2003, he made his debut as a first baseman
(8 times), and played all three outfield positions (38 total appearances), as well as making 28 appearances at third, 17 at shortstop, and nine at second.
to match his minor-league career high of eight home runs in with the New Britain Rock Cats
(Double-A). Also in 2007, he reached a career high in batting average (.272), doubles (22) and RBIs (49).
The Twins promoted Watkins on August 8, 2007, from Triple-A Rochester. Twins General Manager
Terry Ryan
announced his call-up while visiting the Red Wings; the news was very well received by his teammates. Watkins spent ten years in the minors, all with the Twins, before making his major league debut.
Red Wings Manager Stan Cliburn
stated that Watkins' promotion to the big leagues "was one of the most emotional call-ups [he had] ever been involved with." The announcement "set off a joyous celebration in the clubhouse, because of everyone's love, passion and respect for Tommy."
Watkins was the 14th player from the Red Wings to be promoted to the Minnesota Twins in 2007. He was with the Red Wings in Syracuse, New York
and joined the Twins in Kansas City
. Watkins made his major league debut on August 10, 2007. He recorded his first major league hit August 15, 2007, while playing the Seattle Mariners
. He is the first player in Twins history to wear #61.
According to Twins manager Ron Gardenhire
, "He has a good smile in his face and comes to play every day. You can play anywhere you put him, outfield
, infield
, so it will be fine to have him up there." Watkins played nine games, with his major league debut being as pinch-hitter, August 10 against the Los Angeles Angels. He started the remaining eight games he appeared in, all at third base (he shifted to shortstop for the last two innings
of one game). His first hit was a single
off Jarrod Washburn
on August 15 at Seattle
. He had ten hits in 28 at-bats, all of them singles. He scored two runs—scoring his first on a Torii Hunter
grand slam
. His major league journey ended on August 22 when he suffered a lower abdominal muscle strain.
, managed by Jake Mauer
, and Class A Fort Myers during home games for the remainder of the season, and in , accepted a position as Batting Coach with the Midwest League
's Beloit Snappers
.
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
organization who appeared briefly with the Twins as a player toward the end of the season.
Hometown favorite
Watkins was drafted by the Twins in the 38th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998...
from Riverdale High School
Riverdale High School (Florida)
Riverdale High School, located in Fort Myers, Florida, is one of the many high schools in Lee County. The first two years of Riverdale began at the present day site of Dunbar High School. Riverdale was located in this area for approximately two years while the present-day site was still in...
in Fort Myers, Florida, and was a fan favorite during his two-year stint with the Twins' high A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
(–). Watkins' popularity with Miracle fans translated into one of the more interesting promotions in minor league history when he was the subject of the "Tommy Watkins Bobble-Butt" late in the 2003 season.
It was while with the Miracle that Watkins became more of a utility player. In 2002, he made 41 appearances at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, 33 at third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, 19 at second base
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and three in the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
. In 2003, he made his debut as a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
(8 times), and played all three outfield positions (38 total appearances), as well as making 28 appearances at third, 17 at shortstop, and nine at second.
MLB debut
Watkins hit eight home runs his second season with the triple-A Rochester Red WingsRochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
to match his minor-league career high of eight home runs in with the New Britain Rock Cats
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
(Double-A). Also in 2007, he reached a career high in batting average (.272), doubles (22) and RBIs (49).
The Twins promoted Watkins on August 8, 2007, from Triple-A Rochester. Twins General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Terry Ryan
Terry Ryan (baseball)
Terry Ryan is the general manager for the Minnesota Twins. Ryan is known for using a low payroll and building up the minor league system to put up contending teams. He resigned as general manager of the Twins on October 1, 2007 but returned to the team as interim GM on November 7, 2011.-Early...
announced his call-up while visiting the Red Wings; the news was very well received by his teammates. Watkins spent ten years in the minors, all with the Twins, before making his major league debut.
Red Wings Manager Stan Cliburn
Stan Cliburn
Stanley Gene Cliburn is a retired professional baseball player who played one season for the California Angels of Major League Baseball. He was most recently the manager of the Rochester Red Wings, the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, from 2006 to 2009...
stated that Watkins' promotion to the big leagues "was one of the most emotional call-ups [he had] ever been involved with." The announcement "set off a joyous celebration in the clubhouse, because of everyone's love, passion and respect for Tommy."
Watkins was the 14th player from the Red Wings to be promoted to the Minnesota Twins in 2007. He was with the Red Wings in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
and joined the Twins in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. Watkins made his major league debut on August 10, 2007. He recorded his first major league hit August 15, 2007, while playing the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. He is the first player in Twins history to wear #61.
According to Twins manager Ron Gardenhire
Ron Gardenhire
Ronald Clyde "Gardy" Gardenhire is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and current manager of the Minnesota Twins.He is six feet tall and weighed 175 pounds during most of his baseball career....
, "He has a good smile in his face and comes to play every day. You can play anywhere you put him, outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
, infield
Infield
Infield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on the sport in which it is used.- In baseball :In baseball the baseball diamond plus a region beyond it , has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered outfield...
, so it will be fine to have him up there." Watkins played nine games, with his major league debut being as pinch-hitter, August 10 against the Los Angeles Angels. He started the remaining eight games he appeared in, all at third base (he shifted to shortstop for the last two innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
of one game). His first hit was a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
off Jarrod Washburn
Jarrod Washburn
Jarrod Michael Washburn is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and currently resides in his hometown of Webster, Wisconsin.-High school / college:...
on August 15 at Seattle
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. He had ten hits in 28 at-bats, all of them singles. He scored two runs—scoring his first on a Torii Hunter
Torii Hunter
Torii Kedar Hunter is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.Hunter has taken away many home runs throughout his 13-year major league career by "climbing the fence" in the outfield. He has won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards as an outfielder.Hunter resides...
grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
. His major league journey ended on August 22 when he suffered a lower abdominal muscle strain.
Coaching
Watkins spent all of with Rochester, where he batted .219 with one home run and 18 RBIs in 76 games. He became a free agent at the end of the season, and in January , he re-signed with the Twins. Watkins was batting .254 at Rochester when he accepted a coaching job in the Twins' organization. He helped coach the Gulf Coast League TwinsGulf Coast League Twins
The Gulf Coast League Twins are the Rookie "A" Level Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The team plays in Fort Myers, Florida, at the Lee County Sports Complex....
, managed by Jake Mauer
Jake Mauer
Donald Charles "Jake" Mauer is a former Minor League Baseball player, and former NCAA Division III baseball standout. As senior in , he set the University of St. Thomas season record for hits with 83, and is the school's career leader in hits , runs & games . He was inducted into the St...
, and Class A Fort Myers during home games for the remainder of the season, and in , accepted a position as Batting Coach with the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
's Beloit Snappers
Beloit Snappers
The Beloit Snappers are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Minnesota Twins, that plays in the Midwest League.Beloit joined the Midwest League as an expansion franchise in 1982. They were a Milwaukee Brewers farm team from its beginning through 2004; they switched to the...
.