Next up on our list is a right-handed pitcher.
Name: Will Watson
Position: RHP
Born: 11/07/2002
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 180 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2024 MLB Draft, 7th Round (University of Southern California)
2024 Stats: 2 G (0 GS), 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER (3.38 ERA), 0 BB, 3 K, .167 BABIP (Single-A)
Will Watson’s father played football for Puget Sound University and his stepfather played baseball at Pacific Lutheran University, so he grew up in an athletic household. He attended Burlington Edison High School in Burlington, Washington, where he played varsity baseball for three seasons as well as played basketball and ran cross country track. He earned Washington All-State honors in his senior season, posting a 0.24 ERA in 29.2 innings with 57 strikeouts. He went undrafted and after graduating, attended California Lutheran University, where he posted a 1.82 ERA in 34.2 innings with 18 hits allowed, 13 walks, and 40 strikeouts. Additionally, he appeared in 36 games as an infielder and hit .247/.346/.371 with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 0 home runs, 4 stolen bases in 5 attempts, and drew 10 walks to 29 strikeouts.
He transferred from Cal Lutheran and attended San Joaquin Delta College, appearing in 19 games for them, starting five. He posted a 2.97 ERA in 57.2 innings for the Mustangs, allowing 31 hits, walking 21, and striking out 82. The Seattle Mariners selected the right-hander in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, the 607th player selected overall, but he elected not to sign with his hometown club. Instead, he transferred to the University of Southern California for his junior season. He appeared in 16 games for the Trojans, starting 9, and posted a 3.93 ERA in 50.1 innings with 44 hits allowed, 27 walks, and 46 strikeouts. The Mets selected Watson with their 7th round selection in the 2024 draft, the 203rd pick overall, and signed him for $281,300, just slightly below the MLB-assigned slot value of $283,800. He was assigned to the St. Lucie Mets and allowed one run in 2.2 innings, giving up 2 hits, walking 1, and striking out 3.
Watson throws from a low-three-quarters arm slot with a leg kick and long arm action through the back. His 6’1”, 180-pound frame is slightly on the smaller side, but he is athletic. His fastball sits in the low-to-mid-90s, topping out at 97 MPH by radar, and when he is able to get on top of the ball and throw it up in the zone, it has flat vertical break and is highly effective. The pitch averages roughly 2300 RPM, with as much as 22” of induced vertical break, an elite number. He complements his fastball with a mid-80s slider and a low-80s changeup, the former of which has sweepy break and is his best secondary pitch. His changeup is still fairly firm but shows flashes of potential. On the whole, the overall potential Watson’s repertoire gets dragged down a bit due to his fringe-average control, but if that improved, all three pitches would certainly play up a bit.
2025 Mets Top 25 Prospect List
23) Daiverson Gutierrez
24) Ronald Hernandez
25) Edward Lantigua