2025 Cleveland Guardians Prospect Scouting Report: #40 OF Kahlil Watson
Can Watson put all of his exciting tools together?
Bio
Age (2025 season): 22
Acquired: Trade (MIA, 2023, Josh Bell)
2024 Level: Double-A
Height: 5’9
Weight: 178
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
2025 Scouting Grades
Hit: 30
Power: 50
Speed: 55
Defense: 45
Arm: 50
Overall: 30
Risk: High
ETA: 2027
First Impression
Toolsy, athletic. Lightning quick swing. Huge upside. Someone who has shown growth and been misunderstood.
What Makes Watson Fun
It’s possible Watson might have the most exciting toolset and total upside of everyone in the system not named Bazzana. Very few, if any, can match Watson’s electric bat speed and the power/speed combination he brings to the table. The 90th percentile outcome for Watson would be something like an up the middle 20/20 player. So that’s all very fun. The bat speed is there, he has speed to offer on the bases. While he might no longer be surefire shortstop, he still offers up the middle talent defensively at second base and possibly centerfield. He gets the ball in the air and to his pull side.
What Could Hold Watson Back
Contact issues and zone discipline are Watson’s two biggest detractors. And those are big ones. It is what is preventing him from still being that high end prospect he was first drafted by Miami. He has an aggressive approach at the plate and struggles with breaking stuff. The speed is good but he needs to pick better spots or pick up more on pitcher’s moves or get better jumps, because someone with his speed should have a higher stolen base success rate. He’s likely more of a second baseman/centerfield now that can backup shortstop but not play there full time. That dings some value but not everything.
Key Metric
52.1% - Watson can pull everything. That’s a good trait to have to get to power, but it also might be harder for him to do more with other pitches.
Intangibles
After some transgressions in Miami that led to the trade, Watson has not had any reports of attitude issues with Cleveland. I haven’t spoken to Watson personally, but the stories I found don’t paint the picture of someone who had the incidents he did with Miami, based on his past and upbringing.
Future
It would not appear that Watson is a full time, starting caliber shortstop anymore. That brings some overall value down, but there’s some intrigue there to how he could handle playing second or centerfield. He’s still only going to be 22 most of 2025 and has question marks with contact and advanced secondaries recognition. The upside is high here, but at this point, the risk is pretty clear and more likely he becomes a utility infielder at best with power but contact issues that can offer some help on the bases. Otherwise, he’s ticketed for Double-A again and his future probably relies if he can make more contact now. He tracks more of a power hitting utility hitter with serious contact concerns and useable speed that needs refinement.
Role/Risk
35/High - Power/speed utility guy with high upside and very suspect contact issues