When Hannah Watkins first took an interest in baseball through the influence of her beloved great grandma, she never thought she would become the “baseball girl.” What once started as a family interest, blossomed into a profound positive impact on Watkins life.

Although she was born in Clearwater, Florida, Watkins, 20 moved to Atlanta, Georgia  at a young age. She paid homage to Florida by adopting the Tampa Bay Rays as one of her favorite teams in the MLB, following under her great grandma’s wing.

“My great grandma loved the Rays, she went to most of the games and when she passed away she gave me her cowbell in her will. She inspired me to be a Rays fan,” said Watkins.

Now, having been an avid baseball fan for 10 years, baseball has only influenced Watkins life in positive ways. It even saved her life.

“I was going to commit suicide, but then my phone went off with an ESPN notification saying Sam Fuld had hit a homerun and that the game was on ESPN, so I watched the game instead of killing myself,” Watkins said.

Since that life-changing moment, Watkins uses baseball as a means to connect with others who share her interest.

Through social media sites like Twitter, Watkins has made several friends who she talks to everyday. She hopes in the future to meet more people and continue to educate the public on baseball.

In the past, Watkins wrote for a local sports blog based in Tampa, The Scrum Sports. At Scrum Sports, she wrote about game stats for the Rays.

Watkins main goal as part of the baseball community is to gain public interest again.

“I’m trying to get baseball to be the number one sport in America again,” Watkins said.

One of her biggest concerns about the sport is the lack of interest by the youth. Unlike basketball and football, there is no one prominent figure kids want to look up to and aspire to be like.

“It makes me sad because with baseball you actually have to use your mind, you have to use strategy. Kids can learn something and develop better,” said Watkins.

Her interest and long-term dedication to the sport have given her a nickname by friends, family and followers she loves. She is known as “baseball girl.” It’s even in dating profiles.

In the future, Watkins hopes more players like Chris Archer, starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, make an effort to go out into the community and teach kids how to play baseball.

Archer is one of Watkins favorite baseball players, not only for his involvement in local community, but the personal tie she has to Archer’s background.

Like her younger brother, Kaleb Watkins, Archer is adopted and is a different race than his maternal grandparents who adopted him.

In an article by USA Today “Rays ace Chris Archer embraces it all: ‘I couldn’t ask for a better life’  Archer reflects on his life and his purpose to change the lives of as many people as possible.

Watkins admires Archer for his passion to inspire kids like her brother who can sometimes struggle with being adopted by family of a different race.

Watkins says by introducing Kaleb to baseball and Archer, baseball has given him someone to look up to. Archer gives Kaleb someone to remind him he is important and loved.  

Baseball has changed Watkins like more than she could have imagined but sharing baseball with her brother has been the best experience for her.

“I love him more than the Rays and that says a lot