Minor League Mondays: Will Watson Trying To Salvage Lost 2026 Season

The energy surrounding the New York Mets' organization seems to have gotten a lot better after the trade deadline. While the big club's play has improved, the more exciting development surrounds the fact that the team's farm system has seen a number of youngsters all start to play well at once. The final month of the minor league season is important for the young guns to finish their years on a strong note, including RHP Will Watson, who is the focus of this week's edition of Minor League Mondays.

Will Watson is trying to make up for lost time this season.

Watson, 23, was the Mets' seventh-round pick in 2024 out of USC. The Mets gave him an above-slot bonus to get him into their farm system with the eye on Watson being a future starting pitcher. Watson flashed strong potential in his first full season in 2025, pitching to a 2.60 ERA in 121.1 innings across three minor league levels, finishing the campaign with AA Binghamton. After racking up 142 strikeouts in that span, hopes were high for Watson as he began 2026 as the Opening Day starter for the Rumble Ponies.

Things didn't go well for Watson to start the year as he went 0-5 with an 8.55 ERA in his first six starts, walking 12 batters in 20 innings pitched. Watson's year got worse when he suffered an oblique strain in May that cost him three months of action.

Now that the oblique is healed Watson is currently on a rehab assignment with Low-A St. Lucie, where he has been progressing one inning further each time. Watson's last start saw him reach three innings with St. Lucie on Sunday, where he allowed one hit and struck out two without allowing a run.

Once the rehab assignment concludes, Watson is expected to return to the AA level to continue the season. Scouts remain intrigued by Watson, who is the Mets' 21st-ranked prospect according to MLB.com, who has four solid pitches in his arsenal: a pair of fastballs that can average about 95 miles per hour, a slider and a changeup. The two breaking pitches have decent movement, and he has a cutter that is a work in progress, but control will be the key for Watson to remain a starter in the long run.

Given how much time Watson lost to the oblique, he will likely need to repeat the AA level in 2027. The Mets also have added some new pitchers to their organization through the draft and trades, meaning there is less pressure on Watson to be a rotation mainstay in the future. There is a chance someone like Watson gets moved in the offseason as part of a package to improve the big league roster, but if he stays in the organization he is unlikely to impact the Mets until 2028 at the earliest.