Anthony Michael Watson (born May 30, 1985) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels. Watson attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and played college baseball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Watson was drafted by the Pirates in the ninth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut in 2011, was an MLB All-Star in 2014, and is the all time MLB leader in holds. Early career Watson attended Dallas Center-Grimes High School in Grimes, Iowa. In 2003, his senior year, Watson threw three no-hitters and had a 0.10 earned run average (ERA). He won the Bob Feller Award as the top high school pitcher in Iowa. The Florida Marlins selected him in the 23rd round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft, but he chose to attend the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he played college baseball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In 2005, he had a 6–1 win–loss record and a 2.82 ERA in 23 games (five starts) and in 2006 he went 10–2 with a 2.78 ERA in 17 games (15 starts). Watson was drafted in the 17th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft by the Baltimore Orioles, but chose not to sign. After the 2006 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star. In 2007, he went 6–4 with a 4.09 ERA in 15 starts. Professional career Pittsburgh Pirates Watson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft, and signed for an $85,000 signing bonus. He split 2007 between the State College Spikes and Hickory Crawdads, going a combined 7–2 with a 2.79 ERA in 13 starts. In 2008, he went 8–12 with a 3.56 ERA in 28 starts for the Lynchburg Hillcats and in 2009 he went 0–3 with an 8.22 ERA in five starts for the Altoona Curve. He went 6–4 with a 2.67 ERA in 34 games (nine starts) with the Curve in 2010. On June 7, 2011, Watson was called up to the majors for the first time. José Ascanio was designated for assignment to make room for Watson on the Pirates' 25-man roster. Watson made his major league debut on June 8, 2011, striking out