Guardians' Kahlil Watson Undergoes Surgery for Core Muscle Injury
The Guardians announced that outfielder Kahlil Watson underwent surgery on Tuesday to address a bilateral core muscle injury, commonly known as a sports hernia. The team did not specify a recovery timeline but indicated that similar injuries typically require eight to 12 weeks for a return to play.
Watson, who is 23 years old, is expected to serve as a depth option for the Guardians in the upcoming 2027 season. He was a first-round draft pick by the Marlins in 2021 but struggled with performance early in his minor league career. Watson was traded to Cleveland in 2023 as part of a deal involving Jean Segura and Josh Bell, and he made his major league debut this season after spending parts of four seasons in the Guardians' system.
During his time in the majors, Watson had 91 plate appearances, achieving a batting line of .239/.264/.341 with one home run and nine stolen bases. He performed better in Triple-A, where he posted a .247/.361/.455 line with 19 home runs and 24 steals. Heading into 2027, Watson has two minor league options remaining but is not expected to have a significant role on the team, which currently features Jo Adell, Steven Kwan, Chase DeLauter, and Angel Martinez in the outfield.
