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Watkins was hitting .218 as the utility infielder for Double-A New Britain in June 2006, when he was promoted to the Wings for his first shot at the Triple-A level. He started for Rochester on June 20, playing third base and contributing a homer and three RBI. Watkins ended up taking over the starting shortstop role for the club, following Jason Bartlett's promotion to the Twins. Watkins ended up batting .276 with four homers, 26 RBI and seven steals in 60 games, and played great defense - helping the Wings into the Governors' Cup finals. Equally as noteworthy, Watkins endeared himself to the fans and staff at Frontier Field, as he had done in every other stop of his minor league career. It's not an exaggeration to state that in just two seasons, Watkins has become perhaps the most popular Red Wings player of this decade - and one of the best representatives of Red Wings Baseball, on and off the field.
RedWingsBaseball.com began this interview with Watkins in November in the Red Wings' office, when Watkins was in town for an appearance at the Team Store's annual Holiday Sale. We caught up with him again at TwinsFest in late January for the interview's conclusion. Click on each photo below to see a larger image.
RedWingsBaseball.com: What are your impressions of the 2007 season? Tommy: The 2007 season…It was cold at the beginning. I didn't’t get the chance to be here in April (in 2006), and I had never really seen snow like that until I got here. 2007 was good - we had a lot of fun. I didn’t get a chance to finish the season here to be a part of that run to try and make the playoffs but I thought it was a good season. RWB: Tell me about a new friend that you made on the team while you were here ...either someone who came in from outside the Twins organization, or maybe someone from the system whom you had never had the chance to play with before. TW: Matthew LeCroy. I’ve known him from before. I knew he was always a really good guy. We never really got a chance to play together. It was fun to be around him this year, he's so funny; he’s a great clubhouse guy, and I think every team needs a guy like him. Then we got Darnell (McDonald) this year, and he is a good guy to be around. Playing against him last year, I’m glad we got him on our side now. RWB: You've been extremely popular with the fans at each stop of your playing career, and certainly so here in Rochester. You've always done great work for the team out in the community, and a great job each night with the fans at Frontier Field. What is the satisfaction you get from interacting with the fans?
TW: You've got to have fun, and I think we’re here to win baseball games but also to put smiles on people’s faces - especially kids. It's great to get the chance to talk to them and let them know we’re human just like them. We’re just the same as anybody else. We’re just playing a game. RWB: A question many of us would like to ask: what was the day like when you found out you were getting promoted to the big leagues? I'm sure that for a period of 48 hours or so it's probably crazier than anything we could possibly imagine, with packing your stuff, calling your family and friends, and getting to the airport to get out of town. TW: I remember before they told me, a couple of us were in the (batting) cage. They said we have a meeting with about three of us left to still hit. We were like “What do we have a meeting for? We just had a monthly meeting not too long ago.” So we get in and they (Manager Stan Cliburn and Twins GM Terry Ryan) just start talking to us. They said, “One of you guys is going up.” I kind of got light-headed. I didn’t know who they were going to say. After they told me in front of the whole team, I didn't’t know what to say. I was speechless. I had tears in my eyes, it was just a good moment.
RWB: Where did you first go? TW: I first went to Kansas City. RWB: Who was the first person you saw when you got to Kansas City? TW: The first person I saw was Mike Herman, the Twins' PR guy. I went into (Manager Ron) Gardenhire’s office, I set my bags down outside his office and went in to talk to him, and I was kind of scared because I didn't’t know what to expect. After I talked to Gardenhire I came out and my bags were missing, so I didn’t know what happened with that. A lot of guys came over to me and they were happy for me. After that I still didn’t know where my bags were but they were missing for a while. I got a uniform on and went out to hit in the cage, and came back and sat in front of my locker. It was a day game, and Torii (Hunter) came by and said, "You better get out there, the game starts in 15 minutes." And I was like, "15 minutes?" And I went out there and ran a little ...I was ready, but I wasn't ready, you know? I mean, I was terrified and excited all at once. So after the game we caught the bus to the airport, to go to Anaheim. I had my carry-on bag, I wasn't really thinking about my other stuff honestly. So we get to LA, get on the bus, go to the hotel, get off the bus and none of the players grab luggage or anything like that, like in the minors. We get in and Torii's like, "Get ready, we're going to dinner." And I said, "Wait, where's my luggage?" And he said not to worry about it, they would bring it up to the room. It was like magic, all that stuff just gets taken care of. RWB: What's your best memory of playing in the big leagues? You had a great couple of weeks before getting hurt. TW: I think every part of being up there was amazing. Getting my first hit was a big moment.(Aug. 15 in Seattle, a single to centerfield off Jarrod Washburn). I did get to keep the ball, (Adrian) Beltre tossed it to (third base coach) Scott (Ullger) and he threw it to the dugout - I ended up giving it to my mom. I also played in the game when Johan (Santana) struck out 17 batters - his career high in strikeouts. The place was going crazy, especially when he got to 15 and tied his career high. And every strike he threw after that, the crowd just kept getting louder and louder. The game before I got hurt, I went in to look at the lineup, and looked at the ninth spot - I always looked at the bottom first. And I started looking up, ninth, eighth, seventh and figured I'm not playing today. So I keep looking to see who else is playing, and I see my name in the two spot - hitting in front of Torii that day. That was pretty cool. RWB: What is a realistic goal for you in the 2008 season?
RWB: Late night television: Leno or Letterman? TW: I’m not sure. I’m usually asleep. Sometimes I wake up and I think I'm watching Jimmy Kimmel. RWB: "CSI" or "American Idol"?
RWB: Food Network or Discovery Channel? TW: That’s a tough one too. Discovery. RWB: Last animated show you watched? TW: I’m not even sure. RWB: Worst reality show you’ve ever seen? TW: The Flava Flav one - "The Flavor of Love." I don’t like that one.
TW: (laughs) By far, “Brendan, you are the father." I love Maury, I always get a kick out of watching Maury.
RWB: Who is your favorite Hilton sister, Nikki or Paris? TW: That’s a tough one. I don’t know. I don’t know much about Nikki so I would say Paris. RWB: A superstitious ritual you feel comfortable talking about? TW: I like to run up out of the dugout to warm up, I like to do that the same every day. I usually just listen to music. I don’t really have much with any other rituals. RWB: What musician or singer have you ever wanted to be? TW: Maybe Jay-Z. He’s got a lot of things going for him. RWB: What song do you sing in the shower? TW: Depends on what I’m feeling that day. Maybe country one day, rap another. RWB: Last karaoke song you sang? TW: I have never sang karaoke. Somebody offered me money twice but I turned them down. RWB: "Speakerboxxx" or "The Love Below"? TW: "Speakerboxxx." RWB: How many e-mail accounts do you have? TW: I had four, I have three now. RWB: Laptop, desktop, or both? TW: Laptop. RWB: Favorite web site when you have 20 minutes to just goof around? TW: Lately it’s been YouTube. RWB: Complete this sentence. “Most people don’t know that I…” TW: ....Like country music. RWB: Favorite holiday? TW: Christmas. RWB: Is the glass half-empty or half-full? TW: Half-full. RWB: Dogs or cats? TW: I don’t like either, but probably dogs if I had to pick one. RWB: Favorite pizza topping? TW: Pepperoni. RWB: Sunflower seeds or bubblegum? TW: Sunflower seeds. RWB: Do you do your own laundry? TW: Yes. RWB: Would you rather be stranded in a desert or jungle? TW: Jungle. Wait, I take that back. I would pick the desert because there would be too many animals in the jungle. RWB: What is the most uniquely Rochester thing you have learned to appreciate in the two years you have been here? TW: I like the stadium a lot, but as far as hanging out I like the East Ave area. RWB: Favorite local restaurant?
RWB: Thanksgiving weekend, you came up to Rochester and appeared at the Team Store Holiday Sale. You also had the chance to make an appearance at the Montage Music Hall - tell us about that.
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Tommy Watkins has spent his entire baseball career - 10 years - in the Minnesota Twins organization, after being selected in the 38th round of the 1998 draft. 
