9. RHSP Will Watson
23/years
old 6-1 180
7th rd. 2024 – USC
2025 –
A/A+/AA: 28-G, 23-ST, 3-9, 2.60, 1.20,
121.1-IP, 142-K, 58-BB
GROK
-
Will
Watson is widely regarded
as one of their breakout prospects in 2025.
He signed for
$281,300, just under slot value.
Prior to USC,
Watson attended California Lutheran University and San Joaquin Delta College,
where he was drafted in the 20th round by the Seattle Mariners in 2023 but
opted to return to school.
Watson's
journey to pro ball included a solid college season at USC in 2024, where he
appeared in 16 games (9 starts), posting a 3.93 ERA over 50.1 innings with 46
strikeouts, 27 walks, and a 1.411 WHIP.
Watson
profiles primarily as a pitcher with starter potential but could transition to
relief if command issues persist. He's praised for his competitiveness,
athleticism, and ability to miss bats,
2025
Performance and Rise
Watson's
first full professional season in 2025 has been a revelation, earning him spots
on Mets top-prospect lists. He began at Single-A St. Lucie, where he dominated
with a sub-3.00 ERA and high strikeout totals, including a career-high 7 Ks in
4.1 hitless innings in his debut on April 9.
Promoted to
High-A Brooklyn in June, he continued excelling (e.g., 8 Ks in 4.2 scoreless
innings on June 13), then reached Double-A Binghamton by late summer.
Scouts call
him a "wildcard" arm with quick-rising potential, though his
fringe-average control (walks remain a hurdle) could cap him as a mid-rotation
starter or high-leverage reliever.
ETA to MLB:
2027, but aggressive promotions suggest 2026 is possible.
Pitch
Repertoire
Watson's
arsenal is deep and versatile, featuring a five-pitch mix that plays well
against both lefties and righties. He's experienced a velocity spike in pro
ball (up 2-3 mph across the board), crediting Mets development for better
extension and spin. He throws from a low-three-quarters slot with a leg kick
and long arm action, adding deception. His fastball-centric approach keeps
hitters off-balance, and he's noted that opponents "haven't been
comfortable" facing it.
Four-Seam
Fastball
94-97 mph
(avg. 95)
Rise/run
profile with elite spin (up to 2,300 RPM); explosive life up in the zone for
whiffs. Primary pitch (50-60% usage).
Plus grade;
generates swing-and-miss (often his best offering). Peaks at 97 mph.
Slider
84-87 mph
(mid-80s avg.)
Sharp, late
break with two-plane movement; pairs well with fastball for righties.
Above-average;
key for stealing strikes and Ks (recently "working really well").
20-25% usage.
Cutter
88-91 mph
(upper-80s avg.)
New addition
in 2025; hard, late cut to tunnel with fastball/slider.
Fringe-average
but improving; used as bridge pitch (10-15% usage). "Still finding the
right spots," per Watson.
Changeup
87-90 mph
(upper-80s avg.)
Tailing
action with arm-side fade; firm but flashes plus potential vs. lefties.
Above-average;
complements fastball for reverse splits. 10-15% usage.
Curveball
78-82 mph
Deeper, 12-6
break as change-of-pace; less used but adds depth.
Average;
situational for early counts or stealing strikes. <10% usage.
Strengths:
High-spin fastball and slider combo drives his 25-30% K-rate; athletic delivery
aids repeatability. Areas for growth: Command (4+ BB/9) to unlock full
potential—refining this could elevate all pitches to plus. Watson's meteoric
2025 rise—from seventh-rounder to Double-A playoff starter—marks him as a Mets
system bonus. With the organization's pitching lab, he could emerge as a
dark-horse rotation piece by 2027.
11-7-2025
Just Baseball
14. Will Watson – RHP – (Double-A)
Height/Weight:
6’1″, 185 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 7th Round (203) – NYM (2024) | ETA: 2027
Initially a
two-way player at California Lutheran, Watson shifted his focus to the mound
full time before transferring to USC where he pitched his way from the bullpen
to a starter’s role. His athleticism is evident, working down the mound well,
releasing from a roughly 5 foot height with a long arm action that can make it
difficult to consistently hit his spots.
Though his
fastball averaged 95 MPH and is released from a low slot, it seemed to be
relatively easy for hitters to stay on, with a 45% Hard Hit rate allowed and a
swinging strike rate below 8%. His best pitch is his plus slider at 85-87 MPH
that decimated right-handed hitters in 2025. His equalizer for lefties is an
above average changeup, but he will mix in a fringy cutter as well.
Watson has
big league stuff and the athleticism to dream on some more, but his command
will need to improve to fend off a move to the bullpen.
11-8-2025
Tom
Brennan/MM
13. RHP Will Watson
Very, very
promising righty. I promise.
A 22 year old
6’1” righty, with a 60 rated FB, he threw 3 brief innings of toe-dipping in
2024, then went just 3-9 in 2025, but with a dazzling 2.60 ERA and 142 Ks in
121 IP. W/L records in the minors don’t
mean a lot, as starters often get pulled after 4 innings or in the 5th, denying
them the chance to pick up a W.
In the second
half of 2025, Watson had a 2.10 ERA. Pitching at 3 levels, 18 of his 2025
innings were in his 3rd destination in Binghamton. Could very well be a 2027 Mets starter. A
“Sherlock” for a rotation spot, some might say.
12-6-2025
Angry
Mike/MM
WILL
WATSON -> Watson is
another SP who will draw a lot of attention, becuz of how his arsenal improved
across the board & his strong finish. His stuff is electric & he has a
future as a SP or RP, which is why the extra attention is based on what the
Mets decide to do.
-> Will we
see another uptick in VELO on all his pitches? Can Watson take another step
forward with his command? If both these things happen you have a potential Top
100 Prospect by season’s end.
12-15-2025
Angry
Mike/MM
Will Watson was selected in the 7th Round of the 2024 Draft out of U.S.C., after spending a couple years of eligibility honing his skills on the JUCO circuit. Watson’s assignment St. Lucie started off very well, before battling control issues during his second month, allowing an uncharacteristic 18 walks for the month of May.
The Mets still saw enough to promote him to Brooklyn in June, which is when Watson’s season really took off. Watson features an improving arsenal, that features 3 pitches above-average to plus, highlighted by a 4-seam fastball, that generates comparable I.V.B to Jonah Tong.
2025 SEASON
HIGHLIGHTS:
- 14 outings allowed ZERO ER -> pitching
into the 5th IP in 12 of them
- 18 outings allowed 3 hits or fewer -> 4
outings pitched fewer than 3 IP
- 8 outings pitched into the 5th IP or longer
-> allowed 2 or fewer hits
- 21 outings he had 4+ strikeouts
- 9 of his final 10 outings he had 5 or more
strikeouts
- 9 outings of 6+ strikeouts
- 7 outings of 7+ strikeouts
- Posted 4 months of with an ERA under 2.00
& 16+ IP
- Posted 3 months only allowing 3 or fewer runs
across 16+ IP
- Only 2 outings -> allowed more than 3
earned runs
- 6 outings
-> 23 ER |
23 IP -> 9.00
ERA
- 22 outings
-> 12 ER |
98.1 IP -> 1.10
ERA
MAY 31st GS:
1st outing of season -> pitched a career-high 81 pitches
Fastball
registered (95+) -> 6 times past the 65-pitch mark
JUNE - AUGUST
23rd OUTINGS -> Promoted to Hi-A: Brooklyn
Performed his
best facing off against toughest competition of his career
Eclipsed
previous career high in IP for a season
Showing ZERO
signs of fatigue
Showed
improved command
Fastball,
Changeup, & Slider -> all flashed above-average
Mets
increased pitch counts into the 65-87 pitches per start
1.70 ERA -> 14 outings | 63.2
IP
.199 BAA was
the lowest of his professional career over longest stretch of his professional
career
25
strikeouts -> 2 starts posted 8 strikeouts each
30% K-RATE
& 11% BB-RATE | 63.2 IP career-best for longest stretch of IP
Allowed
fewest homers per 9 IP
2 comments:
This will be a guy to see!
Where there is a Will, there is a Watson.
Waiting for him to get into a game.
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