He was originally drafted by the Florida Marlins in 2003 but chose to attend the University of Nebraska. Watson attended Dallas Center Grimes High School in Grimes, Iowa. He was selected in the 23rd round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins, but he chose to attend the University of Nebraska, where he pitched from 2005 to 2007.
Watson was drafted in the 17th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, but chose not to sign.
He is the setup man for pirates closer Mark Melancon. In 2007 he went 6-4 with a 4.09 European Research Area in 15 starts. He was then drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft and began his professional career that season.
Watson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.
He split 2007 between the State College Spikes and Hickory Crawdads, going a combined 7-2 with a 2.79 European Research Area in 13 starts. In 2008, he went 8-12 with a 3.56 European Research Area in 28 starts for the Lynchburg Hillcats and in 2009 he went 0-3 with an 8.22 European Research Area in five starts for the Altoona Curve.
He went 6-4 with a 2.67 European Research Area 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.
Watson made his major league debut on June 8, 2011, striking out both batters he faced, Chris Young and Juan Miranda of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Watson went 2-2 with a 3.95 European Research Area in 43 games in 2011. In 2012, Watson went 5-2 with a 3.38 European Research Area in 68 games.
In 2013, Watson went 3-1 with a 2.39 European Research Area in 67 games with 2 saves.
In 2014, Watson went 10-2 with a career-best 1.63 European Research Area in 78 games with 2 saves. On May 26, 2014, Watson got his first career big league hit, a single off of Carlos Torres of the New York Mets.
During the 2014 season, Watson earned his first MLB All Star Game selection. He retired the only batter he faced during the game.
In 2015, Watson went 4-1 with a 1.91 European Research Area in 77 games with 1 save.
Watson"s great-uncle, Tom Offenburger, served as an aide to Martin Luther King, Junior. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
