2026 Season Coming Soon
2026 Season Coming Soon
Outfielder Enters Third ALPB Season
Outfielder Kevin Watson, Jr., who was traded to the Lancaster Stormers by the Gastonia Ghost Peppers last August, has become the fifth player to sign with the Stormers for the 2026 season, it was announced today.
The upcoming season will be his tenth professional campaign and third in the Atlantic League.
The lefty batter from Oregon hit .333 with four homers and 22 RBI in his first 21 games for the Stormers while also stealing 12 bases. Among his highlights was a 10th inning grand slam at Gastonia on August 24 that propelled the Stormers to a key 8-5 win over the Ghost Peppers. He also made three sparkling catches during Lancaster’s 11-game winning streak, pieced together from August 6-17.
He finished the season, hitting .254 with five homers and 14 steals as a Stormer and hit .230 with 17 homers and 69 RBI for the season. He stole 46 bases.
In 2024, Watson compiled a .302 average for Gastonia. He stole 40 bases, hit 13 homers and drove in 66 runs.
Watson was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 18th round of the 2017 draft out of Beaverton High School in his native Oregon. He spent three seasons in the Arizona system, then joined the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 where he also spent three seasons at the Class A level.
“Watson will play all three outfield positions for us,” said Peeples. “He brings some speed to our lineup and team, and it will be interesting to see what he can do over a full year with us.”