Former SF Giants lefty reliever announces his retirement from baseball

The 2022 season has already been a thrilling one for the SF Giants, equal to what the 2021 season became, but unlike the 2021 campaign, 2022 will go on without one of the most underrated relievers of the past decade.

Former SF Giants lefty reliever announces his retirement from baseball

Tony Watson, 36, who pitched for the SF Giants from 2018-2020, as well as another stint in 2021 after being acquired at the deadline has today announced his retirement from Major League Baseball.

Watson debuted back in 2011 and he appeared in parts of 11 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, and the Giants. He made a name for himself with the Pirates where he posted a 2.68 ERA in seven seasons before being shipped to the Dodgers at the 2017 deadline in exchange for a pair of prospects including Angel German and Oneli Cruz.

The submarine-style lefty registered a 2.70 ERA with the Dodgers down the stretch in 2017. His strong performance continued into the playoffs where he yielded just two earned runs in 11 appearances.

He spent the following three seasons with the Giants where he generated a 3.20 ERA, 8.3 K/9, asnd a 4.41 SO/W ratio. He latched on with the Angels just before the 2021 campaign but he returned to San Francico at the trade deadline. The veteran southpaw posted a 2.96 ERA following the trade and ended his career on a high note.

In 11 seasons at the major league level, Watson was able to put together a 47-29 record, with 32 saves, 570 strikeouts and an impressive career ERA of 2.90. Tony was unfortunately never able to win a World Series, but he was named to the MLB All Star team in 2014, a great honor for a great, consistent player.

He was never recognized as one of the more dominant relievers in baseball, but Watson offered a funky delivery that was always tough on oppposing hitters.

Everyone here at Around the Foghorn wishes Tony Watson all the best in retirement and his future, and thanks him for being a great ambassador to the game of baseball, and contributing over four years to the great San Francisco Giants.