Done Steal! Marlins sign the ‘steal of the Draft’ Kahlil Watson
By Joe Frisaro @ManOn2nd
Now that it is official, you can call it a “Done Steal!”
The Miami Marlins on Sunday officially signed their first-round pick, shortstop Kahlil Watson, taken 16th overall in the July MLB Draft.
Regarded as the “steal of the draft,” Watson didn’t come at a discounted rate. The 18-year-old signed for $4,540,790, according to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis. That’s well over the slot value of the pick, $3,745,500.
Announcing Watson puts the finishing touches on, by all accounts, a highly success draft for the Marlins, who signed 20 of their 21 picks before Sunday’s deadline to get deals done.
Watson, from Wake Forest High in North Carolina, was considered a top 10 talent who slipped to 16.
Accompanied by his family, Watson was at loanDepot park on Sunday, where he spent some time with Marlins chief executive officer Derek Jeter.
“It was amazing to meet him, and shake his hand,” Watson said.
Jeter relayed to Watson a famous Nelson Mandela quote: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
The next step for Watson is to get into uniform, and begin his professional career at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla., by Thursday or Friday.
Brewing with confidence, Watson anticipates moving quickly through a strong farm system that has a strong track record for developing young talent.
“For me, this organization has a fast player development,” Watson said. “That helps me out a lot because I think I’ll be out of here [the Minors] in about two or three years. It’s a quick process.”
With the business side now complete, what can we expect from Watson as he enters pro ball?
Marlins area scout Blake Newsome, who covers the Carolinas, compares Watson to former MVP shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
DJ Svihlik, the Marlins director of amateur scouting, breaks down what that comparison means.
“A lot of times I don’t like using comps, because it puts undue expectations on players,” Svihlik said. “Sometimes it minimizes how good these guys in the big leagues really are.
“As far as Kahlil, he does everything. He runs. He throws. He hits it hard and far. He plays aggressively on the bases. He provides extreme positional versatility. We’re going to develop him as a shortstop, because we believe he can play that position. These are the kinds of players that give you the ultimate flexibility. He can play anywhere on the field. So what am I excited about with this particular player? It’s everything.”
To land a player the caliber of Watson with pick 16 still is something the Marlins didn’t believe would be possible on draft day. That’s why in the eyes of the industry, he was a “steal.”
The word we now will be focused on to describe Watson is “impact.”
Because with you’re first round pick, organizations are clearly seeking impact. And you don’t go well over slot value unless you believe Watson has a chance to be a difference maker.
In the batting order, the left-handed hitting Watson projects as a top of the order-caliber player, either leadoff or in the two hole, or perhaps fifth.
“He plays with a lot of energy,” Svihlik said. “He plays with a lot of aggressiveness. To me, I like that about a player. Real confidence.
“If you watched his game film last year. Watching him barreling into home plate, head-first. He’s got plenty of energy for all of us. But when you get him in this environment, he’s very calm, very collected.”
These are more attributes that remind evaluators of a Jimmy Rollins-type player.
“The one thing I want to be cautious of is, you don’t want to create undue expectations on a young player,” Svihlik said. “This player can do everything. It’s not a raw talent. This guy knows how to play the game. He flies. He hits it hard and far. He’s got a cannon for an arm, and the size. That’s why people say Rollins.”