Brandon Watson

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Washington Nationals #17 prospect in 2006
  Watson's slow starts have become an annual occurrence, and 2005 was no exception. Demoted to Double-A after spending all of 2004 in Triple-A, he stumbled to a .247 average through mid-May. But after moving back to Triple-A, he flipped a switch and once again became a hitting machine, as he was in the second half of his previous two seasons. Watson is a pure hitter who makes good contact and gives third basemen fits with his ability to flare balls over their heads or drop down bunts in front of them. He's a well-above-average runner and an exceptional bunter. Watson has good hand-eye coordination and an unorthodox, Ichiro-like hitting approach, sometimes almost stepping out of the box as he's swinging. That style costs him most of his power, as he has hit just six homers in seven pro seasons. A solid defensive center fielder, Watson does a good job charging shallow flyballs and has an average arm. To be an everyday player and leadoff man in the majors, Watson needs to take more walks and improve his baserunning, as he still gets caught stealing too often. For now, he profiles more as a fourth outfielder, a role he could fill for the Nationals in 2006.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #26 prospect in 2005
  For the second straight year, Watson didn't start hitting until six weeks into the season. He was batting just .232 in mid-May, then hit .299 the rest of the way. In 2003, he shook off a .236 start to bat .349 after mid-May. Though he recovered and was young for Triple-A at age 22, Watson showed no improvement as a leadoff hitter because he doesn't draw enough walks. He has limited power, so setting the table is his ticket. He's a slap hitter who sacrifices his ability to drive the ball for contact. He can bunt fairly well, and his speed is above-average, but he needs to work on his jumps and reads on the basepaths. Watson is a good center fielder with plus range and playable arm strength. For him to be an everyday center fielder in the majors, though, he must become a more patient hitter. Otherwise he'll just be the second coming of Endy Chavez. Watson will repeat Triple-A in 2005.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #14 prospect in 2004
  After batting .236 through mid-May, Watson was one of the minors' hottest leadoff hitters over the remainder of the 2003 season. He hit .349 with 64 runs over his final 101 games, finishing fifth in the Eastern League in hitting. Watson began to improve as he developed more patience at the plate, though he still needs to draw more walks if he's going to be a tablesetter. He has a quick bat, makes good contact and shows the ability to hit to all fields. He lacks power, partly because he collapses his back shoulder, making his swing path longer and creating a loss of leverage. Watson is also an efficient bunter who can get down the line in 3.7 seconds when he drags the ball. He has plus speed, but needs to improve his jumps and baserunning skills. He has Gold Glove potential in center field, with superb flychasing skills and an average arm. Endy Chavez didn't seize Montreal's center- field job in 2003, and Watson could make a push to take it in the near future.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #12 prospect in 2003
  Watson had a breakthrough season in 2001 but tailed off in high Class A last year. He did earn a late-season promotion to Harrisburg, where he sustained a sprain and a hairline fracture in his right ankle. A high school second baseman who immediately moved to the outfield after turning pro, Watson is the best athlete in the system. His speed makes him the fastest runner and best defensive outfielder among Expos farmhands, and he's the best bunter. He's a potential Gold Glvoe center fielder who takes good routes to fly balls and has a strong, accurate arm. He's a top-of-the-scale burner who gets down the first-base line in 3.7 seconds on drag bunts. Watson is a contact hitter with excellent hand-eye coordination. He has a compact, line-drive stroke and uses the entire field. To be a top-of-the-order threat in the majors, Watson needs to draw more walks and get on base on a more consistent basis. The only tool he's truly lacking is power. He has an unconventional style at the plate, similar to Ichiro's, and sometimes lunges and gets out in front of pitches. He'll start this season in Double-A.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #25 prospect in 2002
  Montreal drafted Watson as a second baseman and immediately switched him to the outfield, where he's showing some promise. He started in the Midwest League all-star game as a teenager before battling a heel injury and a slump in the second half. He's a leadoff prospect with most of the skills necessary to succeed in that role. He has outstanding speed, though he still gets caught far too often as a basestealer. He has a line-drive stroke, uses the whole field and is considered the best bunter in the Expos minor league system. Watson is a contact hitter but needs to do a better job of drawing walks and working the count. He's an efficient center fielder who makes good reads and has a playable arm. He'll step up to Jupiter this year.