New York Yankees 2023 Top 30 Prospect Wraps: Danny Watson

The minor-league reliever has set himself up to be a pitcher the Yankees will keep a sharp eye on in 2024.

InsideThePinstripes.com will review each of the New York Yankees’ Top 30 prospects, as ranked by MLB.com at the end of the 2023 season.

No. 29: RHP Danny Watson, Hudson Valley Renegades (High-A), Somerset Patriots (Double-A)

Statistics for 2023: 7-1 1.58 ERA, 45 games (all relief), seven holds, five saves (six opportunities). 62.2 innings, 30 hits, 14 runs (11 earned), six home runs allowed, 82 strikeouts, 25 walks, .138 opponent batting average, 0.88 WHIP.

With Hudson Valley: 3-1 1.48 ERA, 15 games (no starts), two holds. 24.1 innings, 12 hits, six runs (four earned), one home run allowed, 39 strikeouts, nine walks, .140 opponent batting average, 0.86 WHIP.

With Somerset: 4-0, 1.64 ERA, 30 games (no starts), five holds, five saves (six chances). 38.1 innings, 18 hits, seven runs (five earned), five home runs allowed, 43 strikeouts, 16 walks. .137 opponent batting average, 0.89 WHIP.

Season Transactions: Watson started the season at Hudson Valley. On May 30, he was promoted to Somerset. On Sept. 12 he was played on the 7-Day injured list.

Season Summary: The Yankees may have found a closer or setup man for the future. Watson pitched so well at Hudson Valley that he earned a promotion to Somerset and in some ways actually pitched better with the Patrios. He got his first opportunities of the season to save games and ended up saving five out of six chances. His opponent batting average dropped slightly at Somerset. This season helped Watson get on the radar of the Yankees scouting staff and could accelerate his progress through the organization.

Path Through the Organization: The Yankees drafted him in the 15th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of VCU. At 6-foot-7, one would think that would be imposing. But Wilson drops down and works from a sidearm delivery, and he’s only made that arm slot lower in working with his minor league pitching coaches. As the arm slot has lowered, so has the opponent batting average. He now has a fastball with above-average movement, along with a sweeper and a cutter. He can top out at 94 miles per hour and drop down to 78 on the radar gun.

What’s next: Watson now as the makeup of a late-inning reliever, one that can go an inning and set up the closer. Advancing through two rungs of the organization in one season bodes well for 2024, when he should compete for a spot at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He may not start 2024 there, but another sharp start should pave the way. MLB.com writes that he could be a pitcher that could help the Yankees next season.

2023 New York Yankees Top 30 Prospect Wraps:

No. 30: Elijah Dunham