Sep 2, 2025 By Chris Dugan 5 min read

The first thing you need to know about Wild Things rookie center fielder Ben Watson is the guy can hit. He has a track record that shows as much.

In college, Watson made the unusual leap from Division III to Division I baseball and did so seamlessly. Then it was on to the MLB Draft League and ultimately to the Wild Things. Along the way, Watson put together an impressive hitting record. From Elizabethtown to Virginia Tech to the Draft League to the Wild Things, for every team Watson has played at least 10 games with over the last four years, he has hit at least .300. That includes two seasons hitting more than .400 for Elizabethtown.

After signing at midseason with the Wild Things, Watson batted .323 over 31 games and ended the regular-season with a 15-game hitting streak and a 19-game on-base streak. He has been the Wild Things’ leadoff hitter.

Not bad for a guy who didn’t have a scholarship offer coming out of high school in West Chester. It’s amazing what the college coaches couldn’t see then in the little center fielder.

“That was probably because when I was in high school I weighed about 150 pounds soaking wet on a good day,” Watson said. “I’ve always had to play like I had a chip on my shoulder. No matter how well I do, I’m always trying to prove people wrong.”

Watson is one of several Wild Things rookies who might need to play more than casual roles when Washington opens the Frontier League playoffs tonight (7:30) in Sauget, Ill., against the Gateway Grizzlies. It’s a best-of-3 series. Game 2 and Game 3, if necessary, will be played Friday and Saturday at EQT Park.

Zach Kirby (7-5, 4.62) will pitch Game 1 for the Wild Things.

Washington made a late-season charge to the Central Division title, coming from four games back on Aug. 22 to finish in first place, one game ahead of Lake Erie.

Watson and several other midseason pickups helped spur the late charge. Cole Fowler had four multi-hit games after Aug. 21, including a game-winning homer in a come-from-behind win over Mississippi. Eddie Hacopian is hitting .317 and has played both infield and outfield positions. Kyle Edwards has proven to be an athletic and slick-fielding shortstop and catcher Three Hillier has seen his batting average steadily climb over the past month.

And that doesn’t count veteran infielder Pavin Parks, who was acquired in a trade with Ottawa at the deadline. Parks, who spent three games with Gateway earlier this season, is batting .351 in 17 contests with Washington.

“Because of those guys, we’re in a position to have bench depth, which we didn’t have before they got here,” Washington manager Tom Vaeth said.

That depth was needed late in the season as Washington had several veteran infielders slowed by injuries. Third baseman Tommy Caufield was limited to only two pinch-hitting appearances in the last week. Designated hitter Tyreque Reed missed three games before playing in the regular-season finale Sunday, and middle infielder Ethan Wilder missed multiple games over the last week.

So the rookies could be significant factors, possibly out of necessity, in the postseason.

“They’ve brought some enthusiasm and energy that, quite frankly, we needed,” Vaeth said. “Cole Fowler has had some big hits, Eddie Hacopian has been a sparkplug, Ben Watson has hit.”

“I think we’ve added a good, fun, young energy,” Watson said. “We’re reliable bats in the lineup. We’ve all helped the team in different ways.”

Washington and Gateway split the regular-season series 3-3 with the home team winning each game. Vaeth said one of the keys for his team will be to keep the Grizzlies’ leadoff batter in each inning off the bases.

“Gateway is tough in its park. We have to limit their leadoff guys because when they get on base they can use their running game,” Vaeth explained.

Gateway’s Arsenal BG Ballpark is one of the most hitter-friendly in the league, with its short dimensions (315 feet to left field and 301 to right field) and low outfield wall (four feet) from right centerfield to the right-field foul pole. The Grizzlies, however, played better on the road than at home. They had a 26-21 record at home and were 30-19 on the road. Washington went 24-24 in road games.

While Washington made its late charge to the division title, something that wasn’t decided until the final game of the regular season, Gateway clinched its playoff berth early and was locked into a wild-card spot for several days. Manager Steve Brook took an interesting approach to the Grizzlies’ season finale Sunday against Evansville and started five pitchers in the batting order, allowing some regular position players to have the night off.

Extra bases

The winner of the Washington-Gateway series will play the Schaumburg-Lake Erie winner in the Midwest Conference finals. That series will be a best-of-5. … The Wild Things’ Jordan DiValerio, who tossed seven shutout innings, allowing only one hit, Friday against Down East was named the Frontier League Pitcher of the Week on Monday. … Washington was the top fielding team in the 18-team league, committing only 64 errors with a .981 fielding percentage. … Washington first baseman Andrew Czech won the home run title, hitting 25. … Gateway reliever Alec Whaley led the league in appearances, pitching in 56 games.