Why Guardians prospect Khalil Watson is primed to explode in 2026

The Cleveland Guardians' perennial quest for high-impact offensive firepower may be nearing an exciting resolution. No, not through a trade, but from within their own system.

That solution is the surging outfield prospect, Kahlil Watson. The Marlins took Watson with the No. 16 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft before trading him to Cleveland at the deadline in 2023 in exchange for slugger Josh Bell.

And, after nearly two years in Cleveland's system, he's finally begun to unlock the immense potential that once made him one of the top amateur talents in the country.

Watson is proving to be more than just a talented name; he is an organizational success story who has consistently made the necessary adjustments as he has climbed the minor league ladder.

Last season was no exception, as he started the season strong before earning a promotion to Triple-A Columbus in July. It was there that the 22-year-old lefty truly caught fire and provided the Clippers with a thrilling spark in the outfield. Watson also successfully refined his approach at the plate, which drastically increase his patience and power output.

Kahlil Watson is one of the most important prospects in the Guardians farm system

In his 43 games at Columbus, Watson posted an excellent .835 OPS with eight home runs, seven doubles, a triple, 10 stolen bases and 22 walks; a nearly perfect blend of speed, plate discipline, and over-the-fence power.

This skillset immediately brings to mind comparisons to players like Brandon Nimmo or a young Ozzie Albies since he's small in stature but still possess a high on-base rate, surprising pull-side power, and game-changing speed.

While Watson still has work to do before he can become a complete player in the bigs, his ability to combine a selective eye with raw impact represents a significant departure from the Guardians' typical contact-heavy profile.

Watson has always been recognized as an exceptional defender with the talent and experience to play all three outfield positions well.

Watson's growth in Cleveland is a far cry from his time in Miami, which was marred some immature actions which eventually made him expendable. But he seems to have that in the past and blossomed into a promising hitter who should be able to impact winning at the sport's highest level.

Now, with the bat finally catching up to the rest of his game, he has become too valuable to ignore. Given his immense upside and proven Triple-A production, the Guardians need add Watson to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

If he carries his strong Triple-A momentum through spring training, Guardians fans could easily see Watson in the Major League outfield early next season, providing the exact blend of athleticism and offensive spark the team desperately craves.