Oklahoma State right-handed pitcher Hunter Watkins suffered a long-term knee injury in the fall, according to The Stillwegian writer Daniel Allen.
Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Josh Holliday revealed this news in a recent press conference.
Holliday added that Watkins will likely not be available for the 2026 season.
Watkins and His College Baseball Career Thus Far
In 2025, Watkins made 10 starts for Oklahoma State and pitched 52 total innings. He had a 6.23 ERA and 54 strikeouts.
The right-hander picked up four wins last season against UT Arlington, Mississippi State, Illinois State, and Kansas State.
Watkins also picked up a save last season against Kansas State during the same weekend series where he got his win on the mound.
Before his 2025 season in Stillwater, Watkins played his freshman season with the Grand Canyon Antelopes.
During that 2024 season, he had a 3.83 ERA and tallied 47 strikeouts in 47 innings of work.
Holliday Talks About What the Loss Means for Oklahoma State
With plenty of starts under his belt, Watkins was set up to play a big-time role in the Cowboys’ pitching staff.
Holliday talked about the way his team will need to bounce back from losing a key pitcher.
“The depth and development of players will be huge,” Holliday told the media. “It is something we are very committed to doing.”
Up Next for Oklahoma State
The Oklahoma State Cowboys will begin the 2026 college baseball season on February 13. They will play the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2026 Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas.
The game is at Globe Life Field, which is the home of the Texas Rangers. The first pitch is at 8 p.m. EST.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: Oklahoma State’s Hunter Watkins (77) pitches during an NCAA regional baseball game against Binghamton on Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
