Kahlil Watson hits two homers in back-to-back at-bats for Columbus

Kahlil Watson homered twice in back-to-back at-bats for Columbus, including a two-run drive to right field that scored Travis Bazzana, as the Guardians’ No. 14 prospect logged his first multi-homer game of the 2026 season and his second career two-homer night.

For Cleveland, the blast was more than a flashy April highlight. Watson’s profile has always hinted at impact. MLB Pipeline gives the 5-foot-9 left-handed hitter a 55 grade for power, along with 55 run, 60 arm and 55 field marks, but also notes the swing-and-miss risk that comes with his bat speed. The organization has been working on his approach, especially as he learns how pitchers are attacking him, and the way he turned one swing into two straight homers suggested cleaner decisions in the box and more damage when he gets a pitch he can handle.

That matters because Watson’s track record already shows a player moving toward the doorstep. He spent 2025 at Double-A and Triple-A and turned in his best full minor league season, hitting .250/.346/.467 with 16 homers and 17 steals. He reached Triple-A for the first time last year, then opened 2026 by punishing mistakes again for Columbus, which started the season 6-2 and had Watson among its active on-base streak leaders. The Clippers needed offense early, and Watson supplied it with power from the left side and enough athleticism to keep pressure on the bases.

Cleveland also has skin in this development. Watson was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft by Miami, came to the Guardians in the Josh Bell trade on Aug. 1, 2023, and was added to the 40-man roster on Nov. 18, 2025, before the Rule 5 deadline. That protection signaled a timeline already tied to the majors, and MLB Pipeline now lists his ETA as 2026.

If this surge holds, Watson is no longer just a name in the system. He looks like a left-handed outfield option who could back up the big-league roster quickly and, if the contact stays steadier against higher-level pitching, push for a call-up sometime in 2026 rather than waiting for another season of Triple-A seasoning.