Coppell product Watten drafted by Brewers, solid in debut

Former Coppell pitcher and shortstop Trey Watten thought there was a chance the Milwaukee Brewers would select him on Day 2 of the 2008 Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft.

But, he didn’t know for sure until he saw his name scroll across a draft tracker on the internet.

Milwaukee selected the Abilene Christian University pitcher with the 218th pick of the draft. He was the 16th selection of the seventh round and the 16th pick on Day 2.

“The Brewers called me in the morning and let me know they were thinking about picking me in the earlier rounds of the day,” Watten said. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for a chance to play baseball professionally so when I saw my name come across my family and I were real excited. Everyone was jumping around. I would say it was half a feeling of excitement for getting drafted and the other half relief that I was drafted. Now, I can just go out and play.”

Watten said he spoke to many teams and filled out what seemed like hundreds of questionnaires, but he thought the Brewers showed the most interest all along.

Once he was drafted, it didn’t take Watten long to figure what he wanted to do.

“I signed the day I got drafted,” Watten said. “I liked the contract they offered and I wanted to get out and start playing. I flew out two days later to start rookie camp.”

Following camp Watten was assigned to play advanced rookie ball for the Helena, Mont. Brewers. Watten said many of the draftees with collegiate experience go to the advanced rookie team in Helena, while many high school draftees head to the Arizona Brewers, a rookie team in Phoenix.

Watten was selected following a successful junior season at ACU that saw him post 10 wins with a 2.56 ERA in nearly 100 innings. He was the second-highest player selected from ACU. Bill Gilbreth was selected in the third round by the Detroit Tigers in 1969.

Watten said one of the biggest changes since being drafted is changing his priorities.

“I’m enjoying playing everyday as a job,” Watten said. “It’s a full day at the ballpark and a different mindset. For the first time, I am putting baseball ahead of school. Usually, it is get your school work done and then you can go play baseball.”

Making transitions is something Watten has become accustomed to. At Coppell, Watten was a pitcher, but was mainly the Cowboys starting shortstop. It was in the infield where Watten played his freshman year at ACU, before transitioning to the mound for his sophomore and junior seasons.

It appears Watten is making the transition to rookie ball as well. He earned the win in his first start with Helena, tossing six shutout innings June 20 in a 10-0 win against Missoula. He surrendered just three hits and didn’t walk anyone while striking out four.

“I’m facing the best of the best now,” Watten said. “I’m not facing players with medal bats anymore, but Montana is 5,000 feet up there so the ball can carry. Guys can hit it out with one swing of the bat. My goal is to keep my mind focused and make as good of pitches as I can.”

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