A young MLB player usually finds out the hard way that it’s not going to be as easy as it might appear at first. The ups and downs at the major league level can be intimidating, and even with some success, it will be a struggle at times.
Cleveland Guardians rookie Khalil Wilson is learning those lessons now. He has been riding the proverbial roller coaster through his first 21 games, with a recent downturn taking a toll on his statistics.
The young Guardians hitter is struggling after a strong start, with his slump getting longer after an 0-for-3 game against the Miami Marlins on Friday.
“Kahlil Watson is in a slump. He is 4-for-30 with 13 strikeouts. Since being promoted from Class AAA Columbus, he’s batting .206 (.533 OPS). He has fanned 26 times in 68 at-bats with only three walks. He’s only 23. He is a gifted athlete, a good outfielder. There are reasons to like his long-range potential. I can see him play center field, where the former shortstop looks very comfortable. But at the plate, it’s a struggle now,” Terry Pluto wrote.
Cleveland was dealing with injuries to outfielders Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez when it promoted Watson from Triple-A to make his major league debut on June 18. It did not start well for him, as he went 0-for-12 before getting his first hit.
But the 23-year-old looked to figure it out quickly, heating up with a seven-game hitting streak that included his first MLB home run on June 23. Watson later recorded his first walk-off hit in just his 15th game, getting a 10th-inning RBI single to defeat the Chicago White Sox on July 3.
Since his hitting streak ended, Watson has just four hits in 33 at-bats. He is currently riding an 0-for-14 stretch.
DeLauter has returned from the injured list and is on one of his hottest stretches of the season. Martinez may be back from his foot injury sometime after the upcoming All-Star break, as he is now able to take batting practice.
With just two games to go before the break, Watson may be running out of time to make a case to stay on the Guardians’ roster. Based on the way he is trending, going back to the minors might be the best thing for his development in the long run.
Watson has shown what he is capable of in the big leagues, now he just has to work on doing it more consistently.
NEXT: Chase DeLauter Opens Up About His Recent Success
