Twins coach is 'mayor' of hometown

For most professional baseball players and coaches, "home" represents a place distinct from the various locales in which they play the game. It's a place to recharge during the offseason, where one is known more for who he is as a person than for what he may have achieved on a playing field.

For Tommy Watkins, home is the best of both worlds.

Watkins has been employed by the Minnesota Twins since 1998, when they selected him in the 38th round of the Draft. His 12-year playing career reached its zenith with a nine-game stint in Minnesota in 2007, and over the last two seasons he's worked as the hitting coach of the Midwest League's Beloit Snappers (the Twins' Class A affiliate).

But home for Watkins is Fort Myers, Fla., where he was born and raised. Fort Myers also is the home of Hammond Stadium, which hosts Twins' Spring Training as well as the Class A Advanced Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League. Watkins suited up for the Miracle in 2002-03 and has made year-round use of the facility throughout his pro career.

"It's been good to have that access," said Watkins, a utility man who appeared at all nine positions over the course of his career. "I just spent about a month [at Hammond Stadium] coaching instructional league. That finished up last week."

The instructional league stint was a continuation of Watkins' coaching career path, which began in 2010.

"So much of [coaching] is getting guys to play hard, just respect the game and go about it the right way," he said. "I think that attitude helped me out a lot because I was never going to be the biggest, strongest or fastest guy out there on the field."

Indeed, he was not. Watkins' career was defined by overachievement and perseverance, as he scratched and clawed his way to a brief stint at baseball's pinnacle. His never-say-die playing style and affable demeanor made him a perpetual fan favorite. And not just in his hometown.

Watkins spent the bulk of his final four seasons with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings and in 2009 was honored in a pregame ceremony as the team's most popular player.

"[Being a fan favorite] was never something I expected," he said. "I think what people saw in me was that I always tried to have fun and that I treated everyone the same. That was my attitude, and things turned out pretty good."

It's an attitude that he's now helping instill in Fort Myers' youth. Over the past decade, Watkins has served as a substitute teacher at his alma mater, Riverdale High School.

"I help out with the baseball team there, and it was the high school baseball coach who recommended I substitute teach in the first place," he said. "I like it [at Riverdale]. The students know who I am and don't give me too hard of a time."

Students are not the only ones in Fort Myers who know who Watkins is. His reputation as one of Fort Myers' most prominent residents increased immeasurably during Spring Training in 2007, thanks to his former Twins teammate Torii Hunter.

"[Watkins] knows everybody in Fort Myers, from a bum to the richest person in town," Hunter said in an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "You want a reservation for dinner? Watkins makes a call, you're in -- anytime, any place."

Watkins downplayed his reputation as "the mayor" but acknowledges that "ever since [the Hunter interview], it's just kind of stuck." And that reputation would only grow if Watkins is promoted to the Miracle, allowing him to be a year-round Fort Myers resident.

After two years with Beloit, wouldn't that be the next logical step in his career progression?

"That would be fun, getting the opportunity to coach here," Watkins said. "But I love what I do, helping guys to get better. No matter where I end up, it won't be too big of a deal."