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, playing baseball and football... In his senior year in 2021, batted .513 batting average with six home runs and was committed to play at North Carolina State before signing with Miami...Highest drafted player in the Wake Forest-area since Josh Hamilton (first) in 1999 by Tampa Bay.

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.