Kahlil Watson

Kahlil Watson

21-Year-Old ShortstopSS
Cleveland Guardians AA
2025 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Kahlil Watson in 2025. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a $4.54 million contract with the Marlins in July of 2021. Traded to the Guardians in August of 2023.
Dealt to Cleveland
SSCleveland Guardians  AA
August 1, 2023
The Guardians acquired Watson and infielder Jean Segura from the Marlins on Tuesday in exchange for first baseman Josh Bell, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Extremely talented and toolsy, Watson has dealt with his share of attitude issues in pro ball, including a disciplinary-related suspension last season. Watson is batting .206/.337/.362 with seven home runs and 14 steals in 58 games at High-A Beloit this season. He doesn't turn 21 until April, so he still has time to turn things around, but it's a little telling that Miami was willing to sell low on him.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Kahlil Watson See More
Farm Futures: Notable MiLB Assignments
255 days ago
James Anderson breaks down this year's most notable minor-league assignments, including the Rangers aggressively sending toolsy infielder Sebastian Walcott to High-A as an 18-year-old.
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July 17, 2023
MLB clubs will soon be making trades, but Jesse Siegel is more concerned about prospects and their situations.
Minor League Barometer: Risers & Fallers
April 17, 2023
With his latest rundown of prospects, Jesse Siegel reminds us not to get too hung up on early performance.
Noteworthy MiLB Assignments
April 13, 2023
James Anderson highlights the most noteworthy level assignments to start the 2023 minor-league season, including Rays phemon Junior Caminero getting the bump to High-A.
Top 400 MLB Prospect Rankings Update
March 30, 2023
James Anderson answers listener questions regarding his updated top 400 prospect rankings, in which Dodgers hitting savant Miguel Vargas has ascended to fourth overall.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
There were some makeup concerns with Watson pre-draft that led to him sliding to the Marlins with the No. 16 overall pick in 2021, and those issues showed up last season when he was suspended for pointing his bat like a gun at the first base umpire after he was ruled out on a check swing. Watson's season had peaks and valleys, as he hit .354 with five home runs in his first 15 games and had an .804 OPS in his final 24 games, with a .565 OPS and 38.0 K% in 49 games in between. He still has plus power and plus speed, but the strikeout issues loom large, and with a game as mental as baseball, it would be unwise to assume he'll handle adversity well in the upper levels.
The top of the 2021 draft was flush with high-end prep shortstops, and Watson's highlights and raw tools were arguably the most impressive of the bunch. However, he slipped further than expected to Miami at No. 16, where he received an over-slot $4.54 million bonus. At 5-foot-9, 178 pounds, he doesn't have the size traditionally associated with a power/speed shortstop, but that's exactly what he is. He performed well at the plate as a high-school senior and carried that success over after signing. The lefty hitter had more walks (eight) than strikeouts (seven) while hitting .394 with three doubles, two triples and four steals in nine games. Watson should maintain plus speed at least into his mid-20s, and his combination of bat speed and athleticism have elicited Jazz Chisholm comps, although he might already be more muscular than Chisholm. Watson likes hitting for power, and with that mindset will come some strikeouts, but he doesn't chase many pitches out of the zone. He has the highest fantasy ceiling of the hitters in this class.
More Fantasy News
Slumping at High-A
SSMiami Marlins  AA
July 12, 2023
Watson has a .673 OPS and a 30.3 percent strikeout rate over his last 20 games for High-A Beloit.
ANALYSIS
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Serves as DH for High-A team
SSMiami Marlins  AA
April 28, 2023
Watson (ankle) returned to the lineup Thursday for High-A Beloit in a 6-4 win over Wisconsin, going 1-for-3 at the plate.
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Out with ankle injury
SSMiami Marlins  AA
Ankle
April 19, 2023
Watson has missed the last week of action for High-A Beloit with an ankle injury, but he has not yet been placed on the injured list, Fish on the Farm reports.
ANALYSIS
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Resumes playing
SSMiami Marlins  AA
July 29, 2022
Watson is in the lineup for Single-A Jupiter on Friday.
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Back in action
SSMiami Marlins  AA
July 22, 2022
Watson (not injury related) was activated by the Marlins on Friday, Joe Frisaro of ManOnSecondBaseball.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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