| Kahlil Watson | |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Guardians – No. 71 | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born:April 16, 2003 Chase City, Virginia, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
| Stats at Baseball Reference |
Kahlil Lorenzo Watson (born April 16,2003) is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Miami Marlins.
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]
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] He made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Marlins,slashing .394/.524/.606 with three doubles,two triples,five RBIs 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]
On August 1,2023,Watson and Jean Segura were traded to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for first baseman Josh Bell. [15] He made 23 appearances down the stretch 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. [16]
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. [17]
