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Out · expected back around Feb 1
It's not clear how long Watson had been dealing with a sports hernia, but the decision to have surgery was made after he visited with Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia. Watson should be fully recovered well ahead of spring training. The 23-year-old slashed just .239/.264/.341 with a 3:32 BB:K over his first 27 contests in the majors, but he turned in a .247/.361/.455 batting line with 19 home runs and 24 steals in 98 games with Triple-A Columbus. Watson will compete next year for playing time in the Guardians' outfield.
2026 season
- GP
- 27
- AVG
- .239
- HR
- 1
- RBI
- 11
- R
- 6
- SB
- 9
- OPS
- .605
Game log
| Date | Opp | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | SB | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21 | vs MIN | W 5-2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 19 | vs PIT | L 1-7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jul 18 | vs PIT | W 5-3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 18 | vs PIT | L 1-7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jul 12 | @MIA | W 5-2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jul 11 | @MIA | W 4-1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jul 10 | @MIA | W 3-2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jul 9 | @MIN | W 5-2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jul 8 | @MIN | L 5-6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Jul 7 | @MIN | L 1-3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Jul 5 | vs CWS | L 6-7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Jul 4 | vs CWS | L 1-3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Jul 3 | vs CWS | W 4-3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jul 2 | vs CWS | W 6-5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 1 | vs TEX | W 9-4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jun 30 | vs TEX | L 2-4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jun 29 | vs TEX | L 3-6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 28 | vs SEA | W 6-5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jun 27 | vs SEA | W 4-3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 26 | vs SEA | L 1-3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jun 24 | @CWS | W 4-3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jun 23 | @CWS | L 1-2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jun 22 | @CWS | L 5-6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 21 | @HOU | L 1-2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jun 20 | @HOU | W 8-1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Jun 19 | @HOU | L 3-9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jun 18 | @MIL | W 4-2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Latest news
Watson underwent sports hernia surgery Tuesday and will be sidelined 8-to-12 weeks.
It's not clear how long Watson had been dealing with a sports hernia, but the decision to have surgery was made after he visited with Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia. Watson should be fully recovered well ahead of spring training. The 23-year-old slashed just .239/.264/.341 with a 3:32 BB:K over his first 27 contests in the majors, but he turned in a .247/.361/.455 batting line with 19 home runs and 24 steals in 98 games with Triple-A Columbus. Watson will compete next year for playing time in the Guardians' outfield.
RotoWire via ESPN · Oct 22
The Guardians optioned Watson to Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Watson was in the middle of a modest six-game hitting streak, but on the whole he slashed just .239/.264/.341 with a 3:32 BB:K over his first 27 contests in the majors. With Watson back in the minors, Petey Halpin should continue to see an uptick in playing time.
RotoWire via ESPN · Jul 22
Watson is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins.
Following a run of 10 starts in 11 games, Watson finds himself on the bench Tuesday for a second consecutive contest. The 23-year-old has a .584 OPS in his first 26 big-league games, though he is currently in the midst of a modest five-game hit streak, during which he's gone 6-for-18 with two doubles, two steals, two RBI and a run scored. Petey Halpin is instead starting in center field Tuesday for Cleveland.
RotoWire via ESPN · Jul 21
Watson is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins.
Watson had started 10 of the last 11 contests, and the one he didn't start during that stretch was the second leg of a doubleheader. He'll get a breather for Monday's series opener while Chase DeLauter handles right field and Rhys Hoskins is deployed at designated hitter.
RotoWire via ESPN · Jul 20
Watson isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Pittsburgh.
Watson will get a chance to catch his breath after going 1-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts to begin the day. Steven Kwan, Petey Halpin and David Fry will form Cleveland's outfield trio with Watson on the bench.
RotoWire via ESPN · Jul 18
Watson went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Marlins.
Watson's bat has gone quiet of late, but the rookie made the most of the limited times he's reached base. The outfielder is 4-for-29 with one walk over his last eight contests but swiped six bases during that stretch. Watson, who stole 14 bases over 56 games at Triple-A Columbus before joining the Guardians, had double-digit steals over the previous four seasons in the minors.
RotoWire via ESPN · Jul 13