Marlins Select Shortstop Kahlil Watson (Pick 16) And Catcher Joe Mack (Pick 31) In 2021 MLB First- Year Player Draft

Watson, a consensus top-10 prospect, ranked No. 4 by MLB Pipeline; Mack ranked No. 19 by MLB Pipeline and No. 22 by Baseball America

July 12th, 2021

The Miami Marlins tonight selected INF Kahlil Watson with the 16th overall selection and C Joe Mack with the 31st overall selection in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft. Watson, a shortstop from Wake Forest High School in North Carolina and consensus top 10 prospect, ranked No. 4 by MLB Pipeline, No. 5 by ESPN, No. 6 by Baseball America and No. 7 by The Athletic. Mack, a catcher from Williamsville East High School in New York, was ranked the No. 19 prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 22 by Baseball America.

Watson, 18, boasted a .477 career batting average in high school, with 16 home runs across 66 games. In his senior year, he hit .513 with six home runs and 14 RBI in 15 games. He also recorded 61 stolen bases across his high school career at Wake Forest.

Mack, 18, posted a .500 batting average in 21 games as a senior, with eight home runs, 22 RBI and 26 stolen bases, earning the Coaches' All-Western New York Player of the Year honors for the second time. Prior to his senior season, Mack was named a Northeast All-Region First Team selection by Perfect Game.

The Draft resumes tomorrow with Rounds 2-10, beginning at 1 p.m. on MLB.com, and concludes on Tuesday, July 13 with Rounds 11-20, beginning at 12 p.m. on MLB.com.