The Mets might have a hidden gem in Will Watson, but can he overcome his delivery issues to reach his full potential? This is the question on many minds as we look at the Top 25 Mets Prospects for 2026, with Watson ranked at 9.
Watson’s athletic journey is a fascinating one, deeply rooted in sports. He inherited a love for athleticism from his father, Brad, a former football player for Puget Sound University, and a knack for baseball from his stepfather, Pat, who played at Pacific Lutheran University. Growing up in Burlington, Washington, Will was a multi-sport athlete at Burlington Edison High School, excelling in baseball for three varsity seasons, alongside basketball and cross-country. His senior year in 2021 was particularly impressive, earning him Washington All-State honors with a stellar 0.24 ERA over 29.2 innings, striking out 57 batters.
Despite this talent, he went undrafted. Undeterred, he joined California Lutheran University in 2022. There, he continued to impress on the mound, posting a remarkable 1.82 ERA in 34.2 innings, allowing only 18 hits and striking out 40. He also showed his versatility as an infielder, appearing in 36 games and hitting .247.
But here's where it gets interesting: Watson then transferred to San Joaquin Delta College for the 2023 season. For the Mustangs, he pitched 57.2 innings over 19 games, with a 2.97 ERA, 82 strikeouts, and only 21 walks. This performance caught the eye of the Seattle Mariners, who selected him in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. However, he chose not to sign with his hometown team! Instead, he made a significant move to the University of Southern California for his junior year.
At USC, he appeared in 16 games (starting 9), pitching 50.1 innings with a 3.93 ERA and 46 strikeouts. The Mets finally secured him in the 7th round of the 2024 draft, picking him 203rd overall and signing him for $281,300. He started his Mets journey with the St. Lucie Mets, allowing just one run in 2.2 innings.
Amazin’ Avenue recognized his potential, ranking Watson as the Mets’ 22nd top prospect for the 2025 season. And he certainly lived up to the hype! He began at Single-A St. Lucie, posting a 3.66 ERA over 39.1 innings, before a promotion to High-A Brooklyn. There, he was exceptional, throwing 63.2 innings with an outstanding 1.70 ERA and 77 strikeouts. His season culminated with a promotion to Double-A Binghamton, where he continued to perform well with a 3.44 ERA in 18.1 innings. Overall, the 22-year-old had a phenomenal season, finishing with a combined 2.60 ERA across 121.1 innings, 28 games ( 23 starts), 58 walks, and an impressive 142 strikeouts.
Now, let's talk about his physical profile and mechanics. Watson stands 6’1” and weighs 180 pounds, which is on the smaller side for a pitcher, but he's undeniably athletic. He throws from a low-three-quarters arm slot with a fluid, whip-like arm action. His delivery involves a drop and drive, allowing for good extension. And this is the part most people miss: he tends to rush his delivery, causing his upper and lower halves to get out of sync and leading to him flying open early. This can negatively impact his command. While not overtly violent, his delivery does involve effort, which, given his frame, could be a future health concern and also affect his control.
Watson boasts a diverse five-pitch mix: a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a circle changeup, a slider, and a cutter. He heavily relies on his fastball and slider, strategically using his changeup, cutter, and sinker depending on the batter and game situation. His slider excels at generating horizontal movement, but his command can sometimes hinder his ability to effectively use his four-seam fastball high in the zone or his changeup low.
His four-seam fastball is currently an above-average pitch. Since turning pro, he's seen a velocity boost, now sitting comfortably in the mid-90s, topping out at 97 MPH. With excellent spin rates, his fastball exhibits slightly above-average induced vertical break and run. However, effectively utilizing this rising life high in the zone has been a challenge due to his arm slot and command issues. His two-seam fastball is in a similar velocity range and is nearly identical, except for its added arm-side run.
Watson’s slider is his primary weapon for striking out right-handed batters. It sits in the mid-80s and has improved from a fringe average offering to a slightly above-average pitch. It's his go-to pitch, featuring sharp, gyroscopic break that has been tightened up by his recent velocity gains, enhancing its shape. He can effectively throw it to both sides of the plate, backdooring it to lefties and away from righties. But here's where it gets controversial: While his cutter, learned from fellow farmhand Joel Pintaro, is considered below-average on its own, it becomes a potent combination when used in conjunction with his slider, as the cutter effectively sets up the slider. Some might argue this reliance on a weaker pitch to set up a stronger one is a strategic gamble. What do you think – is this a smart tactic or a potential weakness?
His circle changeup is his main strikeout pitch against left-handed hitters. It sits in the upper-80s, also showing an increase from his college days. Despite a high spin rate for a changeup, it has less downward movement than average but significant arm-side fade. Like his slider, he can throw it to both sides of the plate, typically aiming for the lower part of the zone.
Here's how Will Watson stacks up against other promising young talent on the Mets' radar:
2026 Mets Top 25 Prospect List
10) Jack Wenninger
11) Mitch Voit
12) Jonathan Santucci
13) Elian Peña
14) Zach Thornton
15) Nick Morabito
16) R.J. Gordon
17) Chris Suero
18) Dylan Ross
19) Ryan Lambert
20) Antonio Jimenez
21) Edward Lantigua
22) Eli Serrano III
23) Randy Guzman
24) Daiverson Gutierrez
25) Boston Baro
Will Watson's journey is a testament to perseverance. Do you believe his unique pitching mechanics will ultimately lead him to become a top-tier MLB pitcher, or do you foresee his delivery issues hindering his progress? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
