The Guardians acquired Watson and infielder Jean Segura from the Marlins on Tuesday in exchange for first baseman Josh Bell, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Extremely talented and toolsy, Watson has dealt with his share of attitude issues in pro ball, including a disciplinary-related suspension last season. Watson is batting .206/.337/.362 with seven home runs and 14 steals in 58 games at High-A Beloit this season. He doesn't turn 21 until April, so he still has time to turn things around, but it's a little telling that Miami was willing to sell low on him.
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Marlins' Kahlil Watson: Slumping at High-A
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Watson has a .673 OPS and a 30.3 percent strikeout rate over his last 20 games for High-A Beloit.
Watson, who had a memorable play when he stole home to tie a game in the bottom of the ninth inning earlier this month, left a game July 6 after one at-bat and has not played since. No injury has been reported, but it's possible he is dealing with a minor injury or is just getting a chance to clear his head.
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Marlins' Kahlil Watson: Serves as DH for High-A team
Rotowire
Watson (ankle) returned to the lineup Thursday for High-A Beloit in a 6-4 win over Wisconsin, going 1-for-3 at the plate.
Though he was never placed on Beloit's 7-day injured list, Watson missed just over two weeks of game action with an ankle issue. Beloit deployed the 20-year-old as its designated hitter Thursday, and it wouldn't be surprising if he ducks defensive duties for a few more games before reclaiming everyday duties at shortstop.
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Marlins' Kahlil Watson: Back at Single-A
Rotowire
Watson is in the lineup for Single-A Jupiter on Friday.
Watson hit .273/.500/.727 with one home run, five walks and five strikeouts in five games in the Florida Complex League. He was disciplined by the team recently for an incident where he pointed his bat toward an umpire like a gun. Watson hit .221 with eight home runs and a 39.3 K% in 59 games at Single-A earlier this season.
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Marlins' Kahlil Watson: Back in action
Rotowire
Watson (not injury related) was activated by the Marlins on Friday, Joe Frisaro of ManOnSecondBaseball.com reports.
Watson hasn't played since July 1 due to a disciplinary reason, but he'll return to game action with the Marlins' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate after missing three weeks. The 19-year-old appeared in 59 games at Single-A Jupiter earlier in the year and slashed .221/.274/.372 with eight homers, 36 runs, 35 RBI and 12 stolen bases.
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Marlins' Kahlil Watson: Whiffing at alarming rate
Rotowire
Watson is hitting .218/.264/.376 with six homers, nine steals and a 9:76 BB:K through 41 games for Single-A Jupiter.
Yes, you read that right -- he's struck out 76 times in 41 games and 178 plate appearances. That's a brutal 42.7 percent clip. Watson has been even worse recently, having whiffed 33 times in his last 69 at-bats over a span of 17 games; he's collected just 11 hits (10 singles and a double) in that span. A first-round pick last year, Watson is still only 19 and has plenty of time to get right in the minors, but his hot first few games of the year feel like a distant memory now.
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Marlins' Kahlil Watson: Slugs fourth homer of year
Rotowire
Watson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored for Low-A Jupiter in Thursday's game against Fort Myers.
The Marlins' top fantasy prospect has been locked in to begin the season, slashing .391/.440/1.043 through six games with seven of his nine hits (three doubles and four homers) going for extra bases. Watson's even 1-for-1 on stolen base attempts. The performance becomes even more impressive when you consider it's his first time in full-season ball, and he doesn't turn 19 until Saturday. Watson's 2:10 BB:K is cause for concern if it doesn't improve, but he did post an 8:7 mark in 42 plate appearances at rookie ball last year after being selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2021 Draft, so there is reason to think his plate discipline will improve. If he keeps raking, Watson will force a promotion to High-A over the summer in addition to racing up prospect rankings.
