BOSTON – Former Auburn right-handed pitcher Ryan Watson has earned a spot on the Boston Red Sox Opening Day roster, becoming the 64th former player to make it to the big leagues.
Watson is the 13th former Tiger to make it to The Show since the beginning of the 2020 season, the third most of any Southeastern Conference program during the span. He also becomes head coach Butch Thompson’s 26th pitcher to make the big leagues, including the 20th since 2014.
A four-year member of the Auburn program from 2017-20, Watson posted a 4.67 ERA in 58 career appearances and 90.2 innings pitched.
As a junior in 2019, he ranked fourth on the team with 23 relief appearances and logged career highs in innings (40.2) and strikeouts (41). On the way to Omaha, Watson turned in 2.2 scoreless innings in the Chapel Hill Super Regional while also pitching 1.2 clean frames at the College World Series.
Prior to the 2020 season being cut short, the Auburn native posted a 1.23 ERA with seven strikeouts and one walk in five appearances and 7.1 innings pitched.
After being drafted out of Auburn High School but electing to stay on The Plains, Watson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Orioles in 2020. He has made 157 appearances in his minor league career, turning in a 4.14 ERA with 14 holds, 13 saves and 369 strikeouts in 345.1 innings pitched.
Watson was selected by the Athletics with the sixth overall pick of the 2025 Rule 5 Draft before being traded to the Red Sox.
He and the Red Sox open the 2026 season against the Cincinnati Reds Thursday at 3:10 p.m. CT at Great American Ball Park.