Kahlil Watson

Kahlil Watson

22-Year-Old OutfielderOF
Cleveland Guardians AAA
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.
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
Signed a $4.54 million contract with the Marlins in July of 2021. Traded to the Guardians in August of 2023.
Reaches Triple-A
OFCleveland Guardians  AAA
September 9, 2025
Watson is slashing .248/.352/.467 with five home runs, eight steals, a 12 percent walk rate and a 25.6 percent strikeout rate in 32 games for Triple-A Columbus.
Analysis
The former shortstop has seen at least six starts in all three outfield spots since getting promoted from Double-A Akron to Triple-A on July 22, with center field and left field being his top two positions. The lefty-hitting Watson has a fair amount of swing-and-miss in his game, as evidenced by his 17.4 percent swinging strike rate and 64.3 percent contact rate at Triple-A. He has a chance to be a power/speed fantasy outfielder who has a shorter prime and sits against most lefties. Cleveland will need to add Watson, who turns 23 in April, to the 40-man roster this offseason if it wishes to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
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Batting Stats
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Minor League Game Log
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Minor League Left/Right Batting Splits (AAA)
Since 2023
 
 
+8%
OPS vs LHP
2025
 
 
+40%
OPS vs LHP
2024
No Stats
2023
No Stats
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2023vs Left .868 22 1 2 .250 .318 .550
Since 2023vs Right .806 103 4 12 .247 .359 .447
2025vs Left .918 22 1 2 .250 6.045 .550
2025vs Right .654 103 4 12 .247 35.019 .447
2024vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Batting Stats
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Additional Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Batted Ball Stats
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Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Kahlil Watson See More
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Kahlil Watson See More
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
Dealt to Cleveland
OFCleveland Guardians  AAA
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
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Slumping at High-A
OFMiami Marlins  AAA
July 12, 2023
Watson has a .673 OPS and a 30.3 percent strikeout rate over his last 20 games for High-A Beloit.
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Serves as DH for High-A team
OFMiami Marlins  AAA
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
OFMiami Marlins  AAA
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
OFMiami Marlins  AAA
July 29, 2022
Watson is in the lineup for Single-A Jupiter on Friday.
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