How did Watson's MLB debut go? Just watch this diving catch
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MILWAUKEE -- Kahlil Watson's first Major League hit will have to wait.
His first Major League highlight won't.
Making his MLB debut Thursday afternoon, Watson went 0-for-4 at the plate but delivered one of the game's biggest defensive plays to aid the Guardians’ 4-2 victory over the Brewers at American Family Field.
The moment came in the second inning.
With Milwaukee already leading 1-0 with runners on first and second, Watson sprinted toward the right-field line on a sinking liner and made a diving catch that prevented at least one, and potentially two, runs from scoring. Instead of a game-changing extra-base hit, the inning ended with Cleveland trailing by only one.
"What an unbelievable catch," manager Stephen Vogt said. "First day in the big leagues."
Even Watson admitted the play wasn't as routine as it may have appeared.
"I lost it a little bit," Watson said. "But I found it again."
The recovery was enough.
The catch quickly became a talking point in Cleveland's clubhouse, with multiple teammates pointing to it as one of the game's defining moments.
"It held them to one run and really kept us in that game," starter Parker Messick said. "Insane play, especially for someone making his debut."
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Messick had perhaps the best view of anyone.
The left-hander worked out of a jam and credited Watson's catch, along with several strong defensive plays behind him, for helping him navigate six innings of two-run ball.
Watson's debut came less than 24 hours after being promoted from Triple-A Columbus following Chase DeLauter's placement on the injured list.
The 23-year-old, once a first-round Draft pick and now the Guardians' No. 12 prospect, said he was eager to get on the field rather than spend another day waiting.
"I haven't had an at-bat since Sunday," Watson said. "I wasn't stressing about anything. Whatever was going to come today was going to come."
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While the box score showed four hitless at-bats, Watson felt comfortable after settling in.
"First at-bat was just getting my feet wet," Watson said. "The next at-bat I got a fastball right down the middle and put a good swing on it. It's a steady process."
On a day the Guardians desperately needed contributions from all over the roster, Watson found a way to make an impact with his glove.