Cal State LA Athletics

2018: Returned to the program for his senior season after being drafted by the Giants. Had a second outstanding season for the Golden Eagles in his final year with the program. Appeared in 39 games and started 38 times. Hit .322 with 48 hits in 149 at bats. Hit 11 home runs, had 40 runs batted in and scored 30 runs. Led the team in batting average and home runs and was second in runs scored. Also stole five bases in five attempts. Was also a top relief pitcher for the Golden Eagles and led the team with four saves. Was 0-0 with a 4.82 earned run average and had 13 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings pitched. Earned second-team All-California Collegiate Athletic Association honors. Had two home runs and had a career-high five RBI against Sonoma State on April 15. Went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in an 8-4 win over Chico State on March 30. Went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI in a 13-0 win over Cal State San Bernardino on May 5. Hit four home runs and had 10 RBI over his last seven games. Had 15 multi-hit games, including four three-hit games. Pitched two innings and struck out four to pick up a save in an 8-7 win over Stanislaus State on Feb. 10. Pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts to pick up the save in a 6-5 win at UC San Diego on April 27. For his career, appeared in 85 games with 84 starts. Hit. 347 with 112 hits in 323 at bats. Had 25 home runs, 26 doubles, 88 RBI and 66 runs scored. On the mound, appeared in 12 games, all in relief. Had a 0-0 record with a 3.77 earned run average and five saves. Had 13 walks and 20 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings pitched.

2017: Had a tremendous first season with the Golden Eagles as a junior. Led the CCAA with 14 home runs and earned first-team All-CCAA and second-team All-West Region honors. Led the Golden Eagles in home runs, runs batted in (48), slugging percentage (.730), on-base percentage (.464), hits (64) and doubles (17). Earned conference and region Player of the Week honors after going 7-of-11 with five runs scored, six RBI, two home runs, two doubles, one triple and three walks against Cal State San Bernardino in a four-game series on Feb. 23-25. Had a pair of four-hit games, once against Cal State San Bernardino on Feb. 25 and the other against Cal State Dominguez Hills on March 2. Had 15 multi-hit games and hit safely in 40 of 46 starts. Had a two-home run game against Cal State East Bay on March 26 and drove in four runs. Had three home runs in that three-game series.

At Loyola Marymount: Was a Freshman All-American in his first year with the program. Went 4-1 as a pitcher with a 1.89 earned run average in 17 appearance. Also hit .266 with 22 runs scored and 22 RBI. Made the All-WCC and the WCC All-Freshman teams and was the Loyola Marymount Male Freshman Athlete of the Year. Had six saves as a pitcher as a sophomore and hit .256 with two home run and 16 RBI.

At Serra High School: Competed in football, basketball and baseball. Was an honorable mention All-American by Perfect Game as a senior. Earned first-team All-Daily News honors in 2014. Earned All-WCAL honors both years of varsity play. Earned second-team All-State honors from Cal-Hi Sports and was a two-time All-State selection in basketball as well.

Personal: Son of Mike and Cheryl Watkins. Majoring in sociology. Enjoys working out and hanging out with friends. Lists getting drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft as his most exciting experience in sports.