Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 65 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 60

With a spectacular spring, Watson has given himself a chance to become the third North Carolina prepster selected No. 1 overall, following Brien Taylor (1991) and Josh Hamilton (1999). He offers the upside of potential solid or better tools across the board and acquitted himself well on the showcase circuit during the summer. He has improved in all facets of the game as a senior.

Watson plays bigger than his listed 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds at the plate. He has plenty of bat speed and takes a big left-handed cut, giving him plus raw pop. Though he has an aggressive power-over-hit approach that may need toning down against more advanced pitchers, he does make consistent contact and doesn't chase pitches out of the strike zone too often. 

Running better than ever as a senior, Watson consistently displays well-above-average speed and is a basestealing threat. The North Carolina State recruit has the actions and instincts to play a solid shortstop. He could play almost anywhere on the diamond with his quickness and arm strength, and his offensive potential would allow him to profile well at several positions.

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

A candidate to go No. 1 overall to the Pirates on a below-slot deal in the 2021 Draft, Watson instead dropped to the Marlins at No. 16 amid signability and makeup worries and landed an over-slot $4,540,790 bonus. His first full pro season was a struggle, as he hit .232/.296/.395 with a 35 percent strikeout rate and got demoted for a month after making a threatening gesture toward an umpire. He posted similar numbers in 2023, when the Guardians bought low on him in an August trade that sent Josh Bell to Miami.

Watson still has the physical tools and the upside of a 25-25 shortstop that made him a first-round pick. He has a smooth left-handed swing, some of the best bat speed in the system and plus raw power. He also can flash well-above-average speed and show off plus arm strength at his best.

The question is whether Watson can translate those tools into skills and approach his ceiling. He made some progress with his discipline in 2023 but still gets out of control at the plate, chasing pitches and not keeping his upper and lower halves in sync. He covers ground at shortstop but is erratic there, looks much more comfortable at second base and probably will get some time in center field this season.

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 65 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45 

A candidate to go No. 1 overall in the 2021 Draft on a below-slot deal to the Pirates, Watson instead slipped all the way to the Marlins at No. 16 amid signability and makeup concerns. Signed for $4,540,790, he batted .232/.296/.395 with a 35 percent strikeout rate in Single-A during his first full pro season and was demoted for a month after making a threatening gesture toward an umpire in July. He was posting similar numbers in High-A this year before Miami shipped him and Jean Segura to the Guardians for Josh Bell at the Trade Deadline.

Watson still possesses the physical ability that enchanted the Marlins. He has a smooth left-handed swing, plenty of bat speed and sneaky strength that lead to at least solid raw power and well-above-average speed. But he won't come close to realizing his potential if he can't learn to make better swing decisions and stop getting himself out at the plate, and he also needs to do a better job of controlling his emotions.

An explosive athlete, Watson has the quickness to be a dynamic basestealer and cover plenty of ground at shortstop. He has nice infield actions and plus arm strength but needs to develop more consistency after making 14 errors in 51 games at short last season. He was more reliable at second base and that also has been the case in 2023.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 65 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50 

Watson was a candidate to go No. 1 overall to the Pirates on a below-slot bonus as well as a consensus top-10-pick talent last July, but he dropped all the way to the Marlins at No. 16 when his signability became a factor due to the slide. Miami signed him for $4,540,790, the largest bonus it has ever given a high-school position player, but his first full pro season has gone poorly after a strong April. He has struck out in nearly 40 percent of his plate appearances, and the Marlins sat him down for three weeks for gesturing at an umpire. 

Listed at just 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds, Watson plays much bigger than that at the plate thanks to an abundance of bat speed and a take-no-prisoners left-handed stroke. But after he had a history of making consistent hard contact as an amateur despite his aggressive mentality, his approach has been exploited by Single-A pitchers and he has yet to show he can make adjustments. He has plus raw power that could produce 20 or more homers per season if he can improve his hittability and turn on more pitches. 

Watson is an explosive athlete who can use his well-above-average speed to wreak havoc on the bases. He has all the attributes needed to play a solid shortstop, including smooth actions, range to both sides, arm strength and keen instincts, and he just needs to develop consistency that should come with experience. He has the athleticism to play almost anywhere on the diamond and also has seen action at second base this season. 

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 65 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

Watson entered 2021 as a likely first-round pick and thrust himself into consideration for the No. 1 overall choice with a spectacular spring. He improved in all facets of the game as a North Carolina high school senior, though he ultimately lasted 16 selections when signability came into play. The Marlins signed him for $4,540,790, the largest bonus they've ever given a high school position player.

Watson plays much bigger than his listed 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds at the plate. He features impressive bat speed and takes big left-handed cuts, giving him plus raw power. Though he has an extremely aggressive approach that he may need to tone down against more advanced pitchers, he has a history of making consistent hard contact and doesn't chase pitches out of the strike zone too much.

An explosive athlete with the potential for solid or better tools across the board, Watson has well above-average speed and uses it to create havoc on the bases. He has the actions, instincts, range and arm to play a quality shortstop. With his quickness and arm strength, he could fit almost anywhere on the diamond, and he has the offensive upside to profile at any position.

Awards

FSL Player of the Week

Week	Team
09/11/2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	07/29/2024	Akron RubberDucks activated SS Kahlil Watson from the 7-day injured list.
	07/10/2024	Akron RubberDucks placed SS Kahlil Watson on the 7-day injured list.
	03/29/2024	SS Kahlil Watson assigned to Akron RubberDucks from Lake County Captains.
	03/07/2024	Cleveland Guardians Prospects activated SS Kahlil Watson.
	02/25/2024	SS Kahlil Watson assigned to Cleveland Guardians.
	08/01/2023	Cleveland Guardians traded 1B Josh Bell to Miami Marlins for SS Jean Segura and SS Kahlil Watson.
	08/01/2023	SS Kahlil Watson assigned to Lake County Captains.
	08/01/2023	Beloit Sky Carp activated SS Kahlil Watson.
	08/01/2023	SS Kahlil Watson roster status changed by Cleveland Guardians.
	08/01/2023	Beloit Sky Carp activated SS Kahlil Watson.
	07/28/2023	Beloit Sky Carp sent SS Kahlil Watson on a rehab assignment to FCL Marlins.
	07/28/2023	Beloit Sky Carp sent SS Kahlil Watson on a rehab assignment to FCL Marlins.
	07/16/2023	Beloit Sky Carp placed SS Kahlil Watson on the 7-day injured list retroactive to July 15, 2023.
	04/05/2023	SS Kahlil Watson assigned to Beloit Sky Carp from Jupiter Hammerheads.
	03/15/2023	SS Kahlil Watson and assigned to Miami Marlins.
	08/23/2022	Jupiter Hammerheads activated SS Kahlil Watson from the 7-day injured list.
	08/23/2022	Jupiter Hammerheads activated SS Kahlil Watson from the 7-day injured list.
	08/12/2022	Jupiter Hammerheads placed SS Kahlil Watson on the 7-day injured list.
	07/29/2022	SS Kahlil Watson assigned to Jupiter Hammerheads from FCL Marlins.
	07/22/2022	SS Kahlil Watson assigned to FCL Marlins from Jupiter Hammerheads.
	04/08/2022	SS Kahlil Watson assigned to Jupiter Hammerheads from FCL Marlins.
	04/03/2022	SS Kahlil Watson and assigned to Miami Marlins.
	08/16/2021	SS Kahlil Watson assigned to FCL Marlins.
	08/01/2021	Miami Marlins signed SS Kahlil Watson.