Professional athletes don’t grow on trees, but for one family relative in Greene County, he sure is proud to have one.

Cooper resident Chuck Offenburger’s great nephew is Tony Watson, who is a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Offenburger says the Dallas Center-Grimes High School graduate started this season with the Los Angeles Angels, before being traded back to the Giants, who he played for three seasons prior to this year. Offenburger shares the reasons for why the Giants wanted Watson back.

“The general manager told him that they picked him up specifically because they knew he could throw strikes under pressure, but they also picked him up because of his maturity and his experience. They said they’ve got a lot of young people in that bullpen out there and they need an old pro around and counsel them as we go into this pennant drive, and whatever we do in the playoffs. So that’s been his role.”

Offenburger points out right before the start of the postseason, Watson suffered an injury to his pitching shoulder and missed the entire National League Divisional Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who Watson played for in 2017 during their World Series Championship, in which Watson earned two wins. 

Offenburger recalls Watson’s demeanor when he watched him play both for the Angels and the Giants during the regular season.

“I saw him in mid-June with the Angels out in Anaheim, (California). I could tell (then) he was kind of down and didn’t quite have the same enthusiasm as he did later in the season. I saw him in Denver, (Colorado) come in with the Giants for a three-game series and he did well and everything, but I could tell he’s enthused and happy. I’m sure he’s disappointed with the injury, but again, he’s been through that before.”

Offenburger notes that at 36-years-old, Watson is the oldest player on the Giants and has enjoyed an 11-year professional baseball career. He’s unsure if Watson will retire, but he says it’s been a thrill to watch him over the years.