Kahlil Watson #71

Kahlil Lorenzo Watson...Ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the Marlins' system before joining Cleveland, according to Baseball America...Watson attended Wake Forest High School in Wake Forest, N.C., playing baseball and football (position: athlete on both sides of ball)...Favorite player to watch growing up was David Ortiz...In his senior year in 2021, batted .513 with six home runs and was committed to play at North Carolina State University before signing with Miami...Highest-drafted player in the Wake Forest area since Josh Hamilton (first) in 1999 by Tampa Bay.

2025

Split the year for Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, playing primarily outfield for the first time in his career...Among organization leaders he finished with the third-highest OPS (.813) and slugging percentage (.467) and was fifth in home runs (tied) and on-base percentage (.346)...On the year, he made 43 starts in center field, 21 in right field and 20 in left field (15 GS at DH)...Began the year in Akron and was promoted to Triple-A Columbus on July 22, spending the rest of the season in Triple-A...Added to 40-man roster on Nov. 18...At Triple-A, he ended the season with a 23-game on-base streak (Aug. 19-Sept. 21), reaching 42 times over that span with a pair of eight-game hit streaks...Hit in 16 of his final 18 games on the year, from Aug. 28 on, batting .343 (23-for-67) with four doubles, a triple, three home runs, 14 RBI and 15 runs scored (.997 OPS)...Enjoyed first professional two-homer game for Akron on June 18 at Portland.

2024

Spent the entire season as a jack-of-all-trades utility player for Double-A Akron...Routinely would start games at four different positions over four straight team games...On the year he appeared in 38 games at second base (37GS), 26 in CF (25GS), 19 in LF (19GS), six at SS (6GS), two at third base (2GS) and seven starts at DH...Missed nearly three weeks in July with a right hamstring strain... Posted a .246/.343./.574/.917 slash line against LHP...Four outfield assists...Entered the 2024 season ranked as the #28 prospect in Cleveland system, according to MLB.com...Was tied for ninth in the Guards Minor League system in home runs (16).

2023

Acquired in August at the trade deadline, spent the year between two Midwest League stops and a rehab stint in the FCL...Combined hit .216/.329/.405 with 14 HR and 40 RBI in 83 games...Was on the IL in July with a strained tendon in his right hand...Stole 25 bases in 28 attempts.

2022

First full professional season split between Florida State League and Florida Complex League...Was in Jupiter to start season, was inactive in July (on-field incident) and spent remainder of the season in the FCL after 7/21.