Cyrillo
Watson

5/1/16 - Illinois commit. 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed pitcher, live wiry frame, loose and projectable. Arm action is quick and lively, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 88-90 mph, finished well through the zone. Curveball has sharp biting action, thrown aggressively with conviction, ranged 72-78 mph, plus potential out pitch. 

4/10/16 - 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed pitcher, loose lean frame. Showed good command, mound presence, controlled pace of play. Quick arm from a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 88-89, touched 90 mph, showed good feel and control, filled up the strike zone. Curveball show sharp action, plus type pitch, 77-78 mph, two-plane 11/5 action.

2016 Super 60 - Illinois recruit. 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame, wiry-athletic build with room for physical development. Two-way prospect currently known as a right-handed hitting outfielder, but coming on as a legitimate pitching prospect. Positionally, has strong arm, clocked at 91 mph from the outfield (has been up to 95 in the past), accurate throws with carry. Natural outfield actions, aggressive routes, fluid strider. Offensively, hits from slightly open setup, gets square, simple mechanics, loose hands, flat path, swings easy. Registered 93 mph exit velocity and ran a 6.99 laser-timed 60. … On the mound, right-handed pitcher, quick, loose arm from high-3/4 slot, athletic delivery. Fastball ranged between 87-89 mph, touched 90, some effort involved, up in the zone. Also shows feel for curveball, slider and changeup; throws all three aggressively. Curveball ranged between 75-78 mph, flashed sharp bite with some depth; slider looks to be similar in shape. Changeup is firm, 83-84 mph, flashed a few with arm-side sink.

10/6/15 - 6-foot-1, 185-pound, right-handed pitcher with an athletic frame. Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a quick arm action. Athletic, uptempo delivery. Fastball sat 85-87 topping out at 89 mph on a cold night. Curveball flashed plus potential with 12-6 shape and depth at 71-75 mph.  Threw one slider at 79 mph that showed late biting life down in the zone for a swinging strikeout. Interesting two way prospect

7/12/15 - Lean frame, live arm. Came in relief with a two run lead, two on and nobody out in the seventh, recorded the save. Fastball sat 86-88, lively finish through the zone. Curveball flashes plus action, 73 mph, two-plane action, swing and miss pitch.

6/23/15 - The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Watson once again proved that he is one of the top two-way prospects in the Midwest with his all-around impressive ProCase showing. In the workout, the Illinois recruit was clocked at 93 from the outfield and ran a 6.97 laser-timed 60. In game play, Watson went 3-for-3 with an opposite-field RBI triple to right, two singles and scored a run. While he’s more known as an outfield prospect, Watson continues to emerge as a legitimate pitching prospect as well. Working from a high-3/4 slot, Watson has a quick, athletic arm. His fastball topped at 89 mph, sitting in the 87-88 range from both the windup and stretch. His mid-70s curveball has the makings as a big swing-and-miss pitch, as he throws it aggressively with sharp, late action and quality depth.

3/28/15 - 6-foot-1, 175-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder with an athletic frame. Illinois commit currently ranked no. 6 in the Wisconsin 2016 class. Showed off outstanding arm strength and accuracy from the outfield in pre-game. Just started swinging the bat again after breaking his wrist in Jupiter.  4.33 down the line on a bunt single.

2/8/15 - Illinois commit. 6-foot-1, 175-pound,  right-handed hitting utility player. In the outfield showed a long, loose arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Life and carry from the outfield. Played thru the ball with quick, fluid footwork. Athletic actions and soft hands. Threw 92 mph from the outfield. At 3B showed a loose arm action with compact actions. Quick release and ok hands. Threw 85 mph across the infield. Ran the 60 at 7.18. Did not participate in hitting drills coming off a broken wrist. On the mound worked from a high ¾ arm angle, showed a quick, loose arm with regular effort. Drop and drive delivery with some rhythm. Online, balanced delivery with an athletic finish. Straight fastball with occasional run that sat 84-86 topping out at 87 mph. Power curveball with 11/5 shape that sat 70-76 mph. Changeup with fade that sat 75-76 mph.

2/9/14 - Illinois commit. 6-foot, 175-pound two-way prospect, lanky frame, wide shoulder, solid base to add more strength. Offensively hits from an open stance, smooth loading action, leg kick stride. Showed improved rhythm with new leg kick trigger. Hands work well, highly athletic, advanced bat speed. Short bat path, shows power potential, gap to gap type hitter, flashes pull side power. 90 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed plus arm strength from the outfield, topped out at 95 mph from the outfield, long loose arm action, over the top slot with accuracy. Natural outfield actions, quick footwork, plays through the baseball well, highly athletic. 4.40 runner down the line. On the mound shows excellent arm action on all pitches, aggressive with conviction, high ¾ slot, quick athletic arm. Fastball has erratic life in the zone, hard late action, showed control, 85-86 mph, topped out at 87 mph. Curveball has sharp action, 11/5 shape, highly aggressive, fastball arm speed, 74-76 mph. Changeup has plus potential, excellent conviction, fastball arm speed, fading action, showed advanced feel, 78-80 mph. Watson is a high follow prospect with a huge ceiling. Highly ranked 2016 prospect in the region.

10/22/13 - Committed to Illinois in October of his sophomore year.

7/23/13 - Strong build with advanced athleticism, long limbed, wide shoulders, 6-foot, 175-pound outfielder. Watson possesses a plus arm from the outfield, clocked at 87 mph (we’ve seen him at 90 mph at an earlier event). Arm shows carry, over the top slot, long arm action, plays well off the turf. Footwork plays well through the baseball, clean exchange. Hits from a balanced stance, smooth load, short stride. Highly active lower half, solid balance through finish. Barrel head showed whip through the zone, found the barrel with regularity, hard contact. Gap to gap, sound approach, excellent bat speed. Finished with three hits and a double in game play.

1/27/13 - Athletic build, rangy frame, long limbs, 5-foot-11, 162-pound outfielder. Watson has a plus arm for his age, could be one of the top outfielders in the region, elite arm strength, will be one of the top outfielders in his class. Defensively arm is a plus tool for his age, 90 mph from the outfield, arm works long and loose, high ¾ arm slot. Defensive actions are advanced, plays athletically and through the baseball, exchange is quick and clean. Hits from balanced setup, smooth load some bat wrap, uses short stride. Lower half works well, excellent balance. Hands work well at the plate, top hands works hard, gets through the baseball with extension, bat speed is advanced for age, 85 mph exit velocity. Watson has matured offensively since last seeing him, stronger hands and upper body has improved bat speed.

2/17/19: Athletic, fresh-armed righty standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 190 pounds. Sat 90-93 mph with his fastball during his six-inning season debut in rain and 37 degree weather at Wake Forest on Sunday. Threw four pitches for strikes, including a 79-82 mph slider and 74-77 mph curveball. Allowed no runs on five hits with eight strikeouts. (Seifert)

9/20/18: Quick arm from a high three-quarters slot. Watson sat 92-94 mph with his fastball while also spinning a tight, late breaking curveball at 80-81 mph with a 2800+ rpm spin rate. Had modest power with 11/5 to 12/6 rotation. Very good feel with fastball arm speed on a sinking changeup at 86-87 mph. Will need to develop his control and pitchability to go along with his above average stuff. If he is able to do so and get outs on a more consistent basis, he will likely receive Day Two consideration this June. (Seifert)