| IP | 13.1 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.73 |
| WHIP | 1.58 |
| BB/9 | 4.73 |
| SO/9 | 6.08 |
- Full name Jacob Watters
- Born 03/03/2001 in Rocky Gap, VA
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School West Virginia
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Drafted in the 4th round (124th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2022 (signed for $491,750).
View Draft Report
A large, 6-foot-4, 230-pound righthander with the stuff to match his size, Watters was an impressive reliever for West Virginia during his first two seasons. In 2021 he posted a 3.33 ERA over 20 games and 27 innings with a 41.7% strikeout rate—though he also walked more than a batter per inning. Watters continued to show electric stuff in the Cape Cod League with Chatham in six innings but continued to show erratic control as well. This spring, Watters split time between the bullpen and starting rotation, posting a 6.22 ERA over 59.1 innings with 75 strikeouts (27.1 K%) and 41 walks (14.8 BB%). He has a power fastball that averaged 95-96 mph this spring and gets up to 99-100 mph at peak. His go-to secondary is a mid-80s, top-down breaking ball that flashes hammering bite and spin when he rips off a good one. Scouts have put 70 grades on the curveball at its best—and he got whiffs nearly 50% of the time on the pitch this spring—though it can be inconsistent. He rarely threw a mid-80s changeup that needs more refinement. Watters is a good athlete for his size and was a basketball and football player in high school, but his control has always been below-average and because of that he profiles as a reliever at the next level.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade: 45/Extreme
Track Record: Watters spent three seasons at West Virginia and pitched briefly over two summers in the Cape Cod League before the A’s signed him to a $491,750 bonus in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. His high-octane stuff and erratic control have carried over to his professional career. Watters spent all of 2023 with High-A Lansing, striking out 94 batters in 84.1 innings while issuing 59 free passes.
Scouting Report: The righthander cuts an imposing figure at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds and has the stuff to back it up. Watters’ fastball averaged 95 mph and touched 98, and his hammer of a mid-80s curveball is the best in Oakland’s system. Despite the velocity, Watters generated below-average in-zone whiff rates with his fastball. He could benefit from more distinction between his four-seamer and two-seamer, which has considerable armside run. He also throws a solid-average mid-80s changeup with good tumble and fade. Watters’ strike-throwing has always been his bugaboo. He’s a fair athlete despite his size, but there’s some rigidity in his delivery, and he showed below-average control in 2023, especially with his secondaries.
The Future: Watters’ stuff allows for a long runway to keep starting in the hopes he throws more strikes, although a potential mid-leverage relief role seems more likely.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 70 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 30
Draft Prospects
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School: West Virginia Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.4
BA Grade: 40/High
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: - | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: | Control: 40
A large, 6-foot-4, 230-pound righthander with the stuff to match his size, Watters was an impressive reliever for West Virginia during his first two seasons. In 2021 he posted a 3.33 ERA over 20 games and 27 innings with a 41.7% strikeout rate—though he also walked more than a batter per inning. Watters continued to show electric stuff in the Cape Cod League with Chatham in six innings but continued to show erratic control as well. This spring, Watters split time between the bullpen and starting rotation, posting a 6.22 ERA over 59.1 innings with 75 strikeouts (27.1 K%) and 41 walks (14.8 BB%). He has a power fastball that averaged 95-96 mph this spring and gets up to 99-100 mph at peak. His go-to secondary is a mid-80s, top-down breaking ball that flashes hammering bite and spin when he rips off a good one. Scouts have put 70 grades on the curveball at its best—and he got whiffs nearly 50% of the time on the pitch this spring—though it can be inconsistent. He rarely threw a mid-80s changeup that needs more refinement. Watters is a good athlete for his size and was a basketball and football player in high school, but his control has always been below-average and because of that he profiles as a reliever at the next level.
