Kahlil Watson

Kahlil Watson
Watson with the Lake County Captains in 2023
Cleveland Guardians – No. 31
Outfielder
Born: (2003-04-16) April 16, 2003
Chase City, Virginia, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 18, 2026, for the Cleveland Guardians
MLB statistics
(through July 21, 2026)
Batting average.239
Home runs1
Runs batted in11
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Kahlil Lorenzo Watson (born April 16, 2003) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the Miami Marlins in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft. He was traded to the Guardians in 2023 and made his MLB debut in 2026.

Amateur career

Watson attended Wake Forest High School in Wake Forest, North Carolina.[1][2] He played both baseball and football. As a freshman, Watson hit .389 with two home runs, 22 runs batted in (RBIs) and 17 stolen bases. As a sophomore he hit .578 with six home runs, 23 RBI and 26 stolen bases.[3] In 2021, as a senior, he hit .513 with six home runs.[4] He committed to North Carolina State University to play college baseball.[5]

Professional career

Miami Marlins

Watson was selected 16th overall by the Miami Marlins in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[6][7][8] He signed for $4.5 million.[9]

Watson made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Marlins, slashing .394/.524/.606 with three doubles, two triples, five RBI and four stolen bases over nine games.[10] He opened the 2022 season with the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Single-A Florida State League.[11] During a game on July 1, Watson struck out on a check swing and subsequently pointed his bat at the first base umpire as if it were a gun and made a shooting gesture.[12] He was suspended from the team although he was not placed on the temporarily inactive list.[13] On July 22, he was demoted to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Marlins where he played his first game since July 1.[14] He was reassigned back to Jupiter on July 29. Watson played a total of 88 games between both teams, and batted .233 with ten home runs and 47 RBI.[15] He began the 2023 season with the High-A Beloit Snappers and hit .206 with seven home runs and 22 RBI across 58 games.

Cleveland Guardians

On August 1, 2023, Watson and Jean Segura were traded to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for first baseman Josh Bell.[16] He made 23 appearances for the High-A Lake County Captains, batting .233/.306/.442 with five home runs, 16 RBI, and 11 stolen bases.

Watson made 96 appearances for the Double-A Akron RubberDucks during the 2024 season, slashing .220/.305/.407 with 16 home runs, 41 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.[17]

In 2025, Watson made 102 appearances split between Double-A Akron and the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, batting a cumulative .250/.346/.467 with 16 home runs, 61 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. On November 18, 2025, the Guardians added Watson to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[18]

Watson was optioned to Triple-A Columbus to begin the 2026 season.[19] In his first 56 appearances for the Clippers, he batted .255/.370/.491 with 12 home runs, 35 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. On June 17, 2026, Watson was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Chase DeLauter.[20] He made his MLB debut the next day as Cleveland's starting right fielder and went hitless across four at-bats.[21]

On June 23, 2026, Watson hit his first major league home run.

References

  1. ↑ "Cougar baseball player sets his sights on MLB Draft | The Wake Weekly". restorationnewsmedia.com. June 20, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Wake Forest high school baseball star doesn't mind all the attention". June 16, 2021.
  3. ↑ "This NC high school shortstop is a top prospect in the 2021 MLB Draft. How high can he go?".
  4. ↑ "Wake Forest SS, NC State commit Kahlil Watson picked 16th in MLB Draft by Marlins". July 11, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Wake Forest SS Kahlil Watson commits to NC State". www.highschoolot.com. November 30, 2019.
  6. ↑ Fowler, Chapel. "This NC high school shortstop is a top prospect in the 2021 MLB Draft. How high can he go?". The Fayetteville Observer.
  7. ↑ "Top Baseball Draft Prospects". MLB.com.
  8. ↑ Collazo, Carlos (March 15, 2021). "2021 MLB Draft Stock Watch: A Historic High School Shortstop Class?". www.baseballamerica.com.
  9. ↑ Polishuk, Mark (August 1, 2021). "Marlins Sign First-Rounder Kahlil Watson". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Kahlil Watson guide". MLB.com.
  11. ↑ "Marlins' Kahlil Watson: Begins season with bang". April 11, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Offishial news: Fourth place entering Fourth of July; Watson did WHAT?!". July 4, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Minor leaguer still suspended after shocking threat towards umpire". July 8, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Marlins on the Move: 7/18-7/24". July 25, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Kahlil Watson Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  16. ↑ Noga, Joe (August 2023). "Guardians trade 1B Josh Bell to Miami for veteran infielder, former top prospect". Cleveland.com.
  17. ↑ "Kahlil Watson Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Guardians Designate Nic Enright, Select Four Players". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Guardians latest camp cuts include 3 Top 30 prospects". mlb.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Guardians Place Chase DeLauter On Injured List, Recall Kahlil Watson For MLB Debut". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  21. ↑ Sweet, Zach. "How did Watson's MLB debut go? Just watch this diving catch". MLB.com. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
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