A winding road reaches the big leagues this afternoon. Kahlil Watson, once a consensus top prospect who fell off the radar before reinventing himself in Cleveland’s system, is set to make his Major League debut as the Guardians visit the Milwaukee Brewers in a Thursday matinee.
How To Watch
Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
Venue: American Family Field, Milwaukee
TV: Guardians broadcast (CLEG) · Brewers broadcast (BREW)
Pitching matchup: Cleveland’s Parker Messick (6–3, 2.68) vs. Milwaukee’s Shane Drohan (3–2, 3.59)
The Debut: Kahlil Watson
Watson is expected to be in the lineup, most likely in right field; the Guardians will confirm his spot when the card posts. We’ll update once it’s official.
A 5-foot-9 left-handed hitter from Chase City, Virginia, Watson was the 16th overall pick of the 2021 Draft — selected by the Marlins, who signed him for roughly $4.5 million before trading him to Cleveland at the 2023 deadline in the Josh Bell deal. Once a shortstop, he has remade himself as an outfielder capable of playing all three spots, and the bat has finally caught up to the athleticism: he’s hitting .255 with 12 home runs and 15 stolen bases at Triple-A Columbus this season, where he ranks as the organization’s No. 12 prospect.
“It’s been a long journey,” Watson said of reaching the majors. “It’s not done. It’s just the beginning.”
Why Now
The timing is born of necessity. Cleveland’s offense has been gutted by injuries — José Ramírez is recovering from hamate surgery, Angel Martínez is out with a fractured foot, and DeLauter joins them after fracturing a rib crashing into the right-field wall. That opened the door for Watson, who profiles as a high-upside, high-strikeout athlete the Guardians hope can inject some life into a lineup that needs it. Welcome to the Show, Kahlil.
All times Eastern.
Miami Marlins first round draft pick Kahlil Watson stands on the field before a baseball game between the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
This is a 2026 photo of Kahlil Watson of the Cleveland Guardians MLB baseball team. This image reflects the 2026 active roster as of Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 when the images was taken in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Cleveland Guardians’ Kahlil Watson is safe a third after a wild throw during the fifth inning of a spring baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Goodyear, Ariz., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
The featured images is a 2026 photo of Kahlil Watson of the Cleveland Guardians MLB baseball team. This image reflects the 2026 active roster as of Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 when the images was taken in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
