Ryan Traylor Watson (born November 15, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Watson grew up in Auburn, Alabama, and attended Auburn High School. He was selected in 39th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 Major League Baseball draft, but opted not to sign with the team.
Watson attended Auburn University and played college baseball for the Auburn Tigers for four seasons. As a junior, he made 24 appearances and posted a 1âÂÂ1 winâÂÂloss record with a 4.87 earned run average (ERA). Watson made five appearances and had a 1.23 ERA with seven strikeouts in 2020 before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Watson was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an undrafted free agent after going unselected in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft on June 15, 2020. He began the season with the Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds and was promoted to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds after posting a 2.14 ERA in innings pitched. Watson was assigned to the Bowie Baysox of the Double-A Eastern League at the beginning of the 2022 season.
In 2024, Watson made 17 appearances split between Bowie and the TripleâÂÂA Norfolk Tides, accumulating a 2.38 ERA with 23 strikeouts and two saves across innings pitched.
On August 9, 2024, Watson was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations.
After the 2025 season, Watson was selected by the Athletics in the Rule 5 draft; he was subsequently traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Justin Reimer and cash considerations. Watson made Boston's Opening Day roster, and made his major-league debut on March 28 in Cincinnati. Watson joined Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten as Rule 5 selections who made the Red Sox roster.