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Red Sox pitcher admits he put ‘pressure’ on himself, roster decision coming
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- Red Sox pitcher admits he put ‘pressure’ on himself, roster decision coming
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox manager Alex Cora called Rule 5 Draft reliever Ryan Watson ’s outing Sunday “probably his best.”
The 28-year-old righty pitched two scoreless innings in a 7-2 victory over the Twins. He allowed three hits and no walks while striking out two. He reached 95.3 mph and averaged 93.1 mph with his eight four-seam fastballs.
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“He threw a lot of strikes,” Cora said. “Velocity is not up there yet. So work in progress. We know we have to make a decision. We know that. But it’s not now. So we’ll keep talking about him, try to help him out and see what we do.”
The Red Sox must make that decision soon.
His Rule 5 Draft status requires him to spend the entire 2026 regular season on Boston ’s 26-man roster (barring an IL stint) or else the Red Sox must designate him for assignment.
“It’s definitely something that crosses your mind,” Watson said about the approaching decision. “I think I’m really just trying to focus on what I can control right now. And that’s go out, perform, do my best, get outs. And at the end of the day, you know, the decision’s the decision, and hopefully I’m a part of it. But if not, then that’s the way it falls. But all I can do is go out and try to do my best and try to get outs.”
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Watson agreed with Cora that Sunday was his best outing. He has allowed six runs in 9 ⅓ innings over eight Grapefruit League outings. But four of those runs came in one appearance. He allowed just one run over his past four outings (5 ⅔ innings).
“I think I got caught up in some stuff I couldn’t really control early on and led to not throwing the ball over the plate, not competing the way that I know how,” Watson said. “So really just trying to get back to that, get back to what kind of got me here. And just throwing strikes and competing, getting guys.”
Boston traded for Watson right after he got selected by the Athletics in December’s Rule 5 draft. The Sox sent infield prospect Justin Riemer and cash to the A’s. Watson still is subject to the same Rule 5 Draft rules despite the Red Sox not drafting him themselves.
Throwing strikes is important. Both former Rule 5 Draft picks Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten made immediate impressions because of their strike-throwing. Watson has allowed just one walk over his past four outings.
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“I think I was putting a little too much pressure on myself from the start,” Watson said. “So really just kind of talking with Bails (pitching coach Andrew Bailey) and Holty (bullpen coach Chris Holt) and some of the guys in here about really just being who I am and what got me here. So just trying to get back to that and just really focus on competing, getting outs.”
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