Watkins went 2-5 with a 5.17 ERA over 34 games, including seven starts, with the Portland Beavers. In 78.1 innings he allowed 88 hits, walked 43 and struck out 56 while allowing 13 homers.

Notes:

Watkins, 28, originally drafted by the Padres in the 16th round of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft, spent the 2006 season with Triple-A New Orleans where he went 7-7 with a 3.85 ERA (48 ER/112.1 IP) in 21 games (20 starts) with the Washington Nationals affiliate. Over parts of nine minor league seasons in the Padres (1998-2004), Cleveland Indians (2005) and Nationals (2006) organizations, Watkins is 54-57 with a 4.08 ERA (444 ER/980.0 IP) in 235 games (156 starts). In one Major League season with the Padres (2004), he did not factor in a decision in 11 games while posting a 6.28 ERA (10 ER/14.1 IP). 2004

Made MLB debut for Padres, 8/21/04, vs. Florida. ... Had no record and a 6.28 ERA in 11 outings, all in relief for San Diego in 2004.

Steve Watkins, 25, was 3-3 with a 4.21 ERA (24er, 51.1ip) in nine starts with the BayBears to begin the season.

A 16th-round selection of the Padres in the 1998 draft, Watkins appeared with both Mobile and Portland last season, going a combined 6-4 with a 3.95 (56er, 127.2ip) ERA in 32 appearances. He made all 18 of his starts at Mobile before being transferred to Portland, where he was 1-0 with a 3.08 ERA (9er, 26.1ip) in 14 relief appearances.