2023 Baseball Roster
Jersey Number 22
Xavier Watson
- Position:
- INF
- Class:
- Redshirt Junior
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 187
- Hometown:
- Cudahy, Wis.
- High School:
- South Milwaukee
 University of Illinois Graduate |
Career Highs
- Hits: 1, 4x, last - at Iowa, May 16, 2021
- Doubles: 1, at Minnesota, March 13, 2021
- Home runs: 1, vs. Purdue, April 18, 2021
- Total bases: 4, Purdue, Apr 18, 2021
- RBI: 1, 2x, last - vs. Purdue, April 18, 2021
- Runs scored: 1, 8x, last - vs. Youngstown State, Feb. 17, 2023
- Walks: 1, 7x, last - at Indiana, April 30, 2022
- Hit by pitch: 1 - at Southern Miss, Feb. 25, 2023
- Sac flies: 1, at Minnesota, March 13, 2021
- At bats: 4, vs. Northwestern, March 27, 2021
- Field chances: 7, vs. Northwestern, March 27, 2021
- Putouts: 2, 5x, last - vs. Maryland, May 8, 2021
- Assists: 4, Northwestern, March 27, 2021
Redshirt Junior - 2023
- Appeared in seven games on the season as a pinch hitter or defensive substitution.
- Scored lone run of the season on Feb. 17 vs. Youngstown State.
Sophomore - 2022
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Appeared in seven games
Freshman - 2021
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Appeared in 18 games with 10 starts at second base
- First career home run vs. Purdue on April 18
Freshman - 2020 (COVID-19 Shortened)
- Played in three games with one start at third base
High School
- No. 1 shortstop in Wisconsin by Prep Baseball Report
- No. 61 shortstop in the nation by Prep Baseball Report
- No. 7 recruit in Wisconsin by Prep Baseball Report
- No. 367 recruit in the nation by Prep Baseball Report
- 2019 Conference Player of the Year
- 2019 Team MVP
- 2019 team captain
- 2019 Scholar Athlete of the Year
- Hit .380 as a freshman, .320 as a sophomore and .360 as a junior
- 2017 Area Code Games
Personal
- Born April 12, 2001
- Son of Jesse and Tiffany Watson
- Brother, Cyrillo Watson, played baseball at Illinois and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019
- Plans to major in sports psychology
- Plans to work in sports psychology following his playing career
- Chose Illinois over Indiana, Michigan and Purdue
- Chose Illinois because, "I have been around the campus for so long and it felt like home."
Illini Baseball | 03.18.25 Cinematic Recap vs. Indiana State
Wednesday, March 19
ILLINI BASE | Head Coach Dan Hartleb Availability (2/12/25)
Thursday, February 13
Illini Athletics | Week of Appreciation Coaches Video Dan Hartleb
Monday, December 09
Illini Baseball | Team IMPACT Signing
Friday, September 22
