Crushers Re-Sign Watkins, Morgan, and Vegas to Bring Back Pipeline Core

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Zane Bloom, zbloom@lakeeriecrushers.com

910-777-3871

Jarrod Watkins is the longest tenured Crusher, who will be entering his fifth season with the team in 2026. Signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks organization during his first stint with the Crushers in 2022, Watkins has returned to Avon each summer to provide a veteran presence with his captaincy as a gold-glove, all-star caliber shortstop. Watkins got off to a torrid start in 2025, but injuries unfortunately derailed his production. Just a year removed from representing Lake Erie in the 2024 All-Star Game, he dealt with a foot injury in the back half of 2025. He was sidelined for several weeks down the stretch, but offensively he finished with a .268 batting average while playing some of the slickest shortstop you’ll see at any level of baseball. Watkins is looking forward to a healthy rebound year in 2026.

Davie Morgan is returning to the Crushers after an impressive rookie campaign in 2025. The young buck out of North Carolina Wesleyan College seized an opportunity to take hold of the starting second base role early in the season and never let it go. Morgan homered in his first professional start against the New York Boulders and went on to slug two grand slams as part of his seven total homers in 2025. He finished his rookie season batting .284 with 17 doubles and was the embodiment of consistency in the back half of the Crushers lineup. Morgan was a bellcow, and his strong work ethic landed him a start in every game from June 7 to July 31. Appearing in 90 games as a rookie - mostly at second base - he built a strong chemistry with shortstop Jarrod Watkins, making the middle infield tandem an identifiable strength heading into 2026.

Derek Vegas was a welcome surprise to the Crushers roster in 2025. Brought in for his defensive abilities behind the plate, Vegas morphed into a real producer at the plate, hitting .291 with 41 RBIs. While he was primarily a backup catcher to begin the season, injuries thrust him into the fray where he caught six straight games with just one off day, including several day games after night games. Despite the necessary grueling, Vegas thrived. He had the knack for driving in runs, which was evidenced by his whopping .344 batting average with runners in scoring position. Vegas will be just 24 years old at the start of 2026 despite having three seasons with the Dominican Summer League Marlins under his belt. Offense is a premium at the catcher position, but Derek Vegas merges above average blocking and framing ability with timely hitting. Vegas completes the infield pipeline up the middle with Watkins and Morgan also returning, giving Jared Lemieux’s Crushers a great start to the offseason.

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About the Lake Erie Crushers

The Lake Erie Crushers are a professional baseball team based in Avon, Ohio, just 18 miles west of Cleveland. They compete in the Frontier League, a proud MLB Partner League, and have brought a family-friendly, fan-oriented baseball experience to Northeast Ohio since 2009. As Lorain County’s only professional sports franchise, the Lake Erie Crushers are the largest economic driver in Lorain County, hosting more than 200 events per year that include over 50 baseball games, concerts, charity functions, and other events that bring the community of Avon together. Len Komoroski is the Crushers Chairman and Managing Partner, and the team is led by President Vic Gregovits. Jared Lemieux, a Maine Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, is in his fourth season as field manager.