June 6, 2006

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Catcher Kris Watts became the first Bronco baseball player selected in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft Tuesday when the Pittsburgh Pirates made him their 16th-round pick and the 470th overall.

Watts, a Fremont native who joined SCU as a junior from Ohlone College in his hometown, is a two-time All-WCC performer and held the starting backstop job in each of his two years on the Mission Campus. After a junior year in which he was named All-WCC honorable mention, Watts put up a career season in 2006 that culminated in him being named to the catcher's spot on the All-WCC first team.

One of only two Broncos to start all 54 games, Watts batted .336 for the year and ranked in the conference's top-five in runs batted in (54 - 3rd), doubles (18 - t4th), home runs (9 - t5th), and total bases (116 - t3rd). His .550 slugging percentage was also sixth-best in the WCC.

The MLB Draft will conclude Wednesday beginning at 9 a.m. Pacific time.