| Kahlil Watson | |
| Team: | Cleveland Guardians |
| Position: | Shortstop |
| Birth Date: | 16 April 2003 |
| Birth Place: | Chase City, Virginia |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
Kahlil Lorenzo Watson (born April 16, 2003) is an American professional baseball shortstop in the Cleveland Guardians organization. He was selected in the first round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft by the Miami Marlins.
Watson attended Wake Forest High School in Wake Forest, North Carolina.[1] [2] He played both baseball and football. As a freshman, Watson hit .389 with two home runs, 22 runs batted in (RBIs) and 17 stolen bases. As a sophomore he hit .578 with six home runs, 23 RBI and 26 stolen bases.[3] In 2021, as a senior, he hit .513 with six home runs.[4] He committed to North Carolina State University to play college baseball.[5]
Watson was selected 16th overall by the Miami Marlins in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[6] [7] [8] He signed for $4.5 million.[9] He made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Marlins, slashing .394/.524/.606 with three doubles, two triples, five RBIs and four stolen bases over nine games.[10] He opened the 2022 season with the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Single-A Florida State League.[11] During a game on July 1, Watson struck out on a check swing and subsequently pointed his bat at the first base umpire as if it were a gun and made a shooting gesture.[12] He was suspended from the team although he was not placed on the temporarily inactive list.[13] On July 22, he was demoted to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Marlins where he played his first game since July 1.[14]
On August 1, 2023, Watson and Jean Segura were traded to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for first baseman Josh Bell.[15]