Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

A native of Washington state, Watson spent one season apiece at Cal Lutheran and San Joaquin Delta College and got drafted by the Mariners in the 20th round of the 2023 Draft before heading to USC. He moved from the Trojans' bullpen to their starting rotation, and he flashed enough promising stuff in the longer role for the Mets to take him in the seventh round and sign him for around slot at $281,300 in 2024. Watson climbed from Single-A to Double-A in his first full season and finished with a 2.60 ERA over 121 1/3 innings; his 142 strikeouts were fourth-most in the New York system.

Despite the increased workload in the Minors, Watson experienced a velocity bump across the board in 2025. He averaged around 95 mph with a pair of fastballs, and his four-seamer shows promising ride and a flat approach angle from a relatively low release. His mid-80s slider gives him a gloveside option that can force opponents to expand the zone, while his upper-80s change moves even more horizontally armside. Because of the latter, he ran reverse splits last year, holding lefties to a .186 average and .561 OPS. Watson also shows an 88-91 mph cutter for a bridge pitch, but it can get hit hard with limited movement. 

With some length in his delivery, Watson lacks pinpoint accuracy with his arsenal, and he walked more than 10 percent of his batters faced at each level in 2025. As things currently stand, he may lack a true plus pitch, though it’s possible the fastball velo would play up in shorter stints. Still, a bevy of above-average options will keep getting him starting looks in a system loaded with upper-level arms.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

The Washington state native spent one season each at Cal Lutheran and San Joaquin Delta College and was even drafted by the Mariners in the 20th round in 2023 before heading to USC instead of signing. He opened the year in the Trojans' bullpen before transitioning to a starting role for nine starts, and he finished his junior campaign with a 3.93 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 27 walks in 50 1/3 innings. The Mets took him in the seventh round in July and signed him for around slot at $281,300. Watson got two brief appearances with Single-A St. Lucie after joining the organization and returned to the Florida State League to begin his first full season.

The 6-foot-1 right-hander has seen an early velocity bump across his arsenal in his first taste of the pros. His two fastballs sit comfortably 94-96 mph, touching 97, up from 93-95 mph in school, and the four-seamer plays especially well with better-than-expected ride from his three-quarters delivery. He’s added about 3 mph to his mid-80s slider and 2 mph to his upper-80s changeup, and both offerings have gotten ample whiffs in the FSL. They flash above-average, and the cambio in particular shows promising armside run. Watson has added an 89-91 mph cutter in pro ball, and while it’s gotten hammered, it at least sets up the longer slider and gives him another option versus lefties.

Watson has some length in his delivery, and initial concerns about his control are what made him a reliever out of the gate with Southern Cal. He’s held walks in relative check early in 2025, even improving slightly after his promotion to High-A Brooklyn, in part because he’s gotten so many swings out of the zone, and even if he does need to head back to relief, the fastball alone would be intriguing in shorter stints. 

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Will Watson assigned to New York Mets Prospects.
	08/25/2025	RHP Will Watson assigned to Binghamton Rumble Ponies from Brooklyn Cyclones.
	08/25/2025	Binghamton Rumble Ponies activated RHP Will Watson.
	06/02/2025	RHP Will Watson assigned to Brooklyn Cyclones from St. Lucie Mets.
	09/16/2024	St. Lucie Mets activated RHP Will Watson.
	09/05/2024	St. Lucie Mets transferred RHP Will Watson to the Development List.
	08/28/2024	RHP Will Watson assigned to St. Lucie Mets.
	07/22/2024	New York Mets signed RHP Will Watson.
	06/13/2024	RHP Will Watson assigned to College Workout.
	02/02/2024	RHP Will Watson assigned to USC Trojans.
	06/15/2023	RHP William Watson assigned to College Workout.