KRIS WATTS

7/15/84; '06 16th; Santa Clara Univ.
L/R; 6-1, 200

Level
BA
OBP
SA
AB
2B
3B
HR
BB
K
SB
CS
2005 NCAA
.306
.406
.446
186
6
1
6
26
35
2
1
2006 NCAA
.332
.411
.545
211
18
0
9
29
25
4
2
2006 A-
.200
.281
.225
120
3
0
0
12
26
0
1
2007 A
.261
.326
.433
307
25
2
8
27
54
0
1
2008 AA
.160
.236
.180
50
1
0
0
5
7
1
0
2008 A+
.285
.378
.420
207
16
0
4
30
25
0
4

Watts attended Ohlone College before he went to Santa Clara.  The Pirates generally select a college catcher somewhere around this point in the draft, although the previous ones have been good-field, no-hit types.  Baseball America described Watts as "decent" defensively, but he started showing some pop with the bat in 2006.  Beyond drawing a few walks he didn't hit at Williamsport, and didn't show any power at all.  He adjusted better at Hickory, though, which isn't unusual with college hitters who have to adapt to wood bats.  He finished the season hot, with ten hits, seven for extra bases, in his last twenty ABs.  He did not have a platoon split.  Despite the good showing at Hickory, he opened 2008 as the backup to Steve Lerud at Lynchburg.  The reason for this no doubt has to do with his defense, which isn't good.  He's not mobile behind the plate and doesn't block pitches well, and his arm is not strong.  He's still intriguing because he's a LH hitting catcher with some power and good strike zone judgment.  He played little at Lynchburg until June; in fact, he saw more time as an injury fill-in at Altoona.  Once Lerud was promoted, however, Watts became the Hillcats' starting catcher and caught fire, posting an OPS of 1.107 in July.  He then slumped in August.  He struggled against LHPs, although the sample size is small.  It'll be interesting to see what the Pirates do with Watts.  He could stay at Lynchburg, since there's no catcher likely to move up from low A thanks to Andrew Walker being hurt much of 2008.  He also could move up to Altoona, where he could rejoin Lerud.

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