Luke Williams (baseball)

Lucas Daniel Williams (born August 9, 1996) is an American professional baseball utility player for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Luke Williams
Williams with the Reading Fightin' Phils in 2019
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 30
Utility player
Born: (1996-08-09) August 9, 1996
Park Ridge, Illinois
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 8, 2021, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
(through September 25, 2021)
Batting average.245
Home runs1
Runs batted in6
Teams

Early life

Williams was born in Park Ridge, Illinois and grew up in Orange County, California. He attended Dana Hills High School, where he played baseball and football and was a sprinter on the track team. Williams set Dana Hills' school record for stolen bases in his junior season with 26.[1] As a senior, he batted .315 with a .454 on-base percentage and scored 35 runs with 19 RBIs and four home runs.[2] Prior to being drafted, Williams had committed to play college baseball at California Polytechnic over offers from UCLA and California, Irvine.[3]

Professional career

Minor leagues

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Williams in the third round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He signed with the team for a $719,800 bonus and was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Phillies, where he batted .288.[5] Williams spent the 2016 season with the Low-A Williamsport Crosscutters, slashing .220/.297/.301 with 2 home runs and 18 RBI. The next year, he played for the Single-A Lakewood BlueClaws, logging a .216/.269/.264 batting line in 115 games. In 2018, he played for the High-A Clearwater Threshers, batting .245/.319/.353 with career-highs in home runs (9) and RBI (43).[6]

Williams spent the 2019 season with the Reading Fightin Phils of the AA Eastern League and batted .238 with 77 runs scored and 51 RBIs and 44 total extra base hits.[7] Williams was a non-roster invitee for the Phillies in spring training in 2020.[8] Williams did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He played winter league for the Adelaide Giants of the Australian Baseball League.[9] Williams was named the best overall athlete in the Phillies' minor league system going into the 2021 season and was assigned to the Class AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs.[10][11]

Philadelphia Phillies

Williams received his first major league call-up on June 8, 2021, to take the place of a struggling Nick Maton.[12] He debuted with the Phillies that same day, filling in as a pinch hitter for starting pitcher Aaron Nola in the fifth inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves. In his first at-bat, Williams tripled on a bunt due to an Atlanta throwing error. He reached home in the next at-bat, an RBI double from Jean Segura.[13] The following day, in his first MLB start, Williams hit a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Phillies to a 2–1 victory over the Braves.[14] Williams remained in the Phillies lineup, sharing time in the outfield with Travis Jankowski. He saw the bulk of his playing time against left-handed pitchers, as well as filling in for an injured Andrew McCutchen.[15]

International career

In May 2021, Williams was named to the roster of the United States national baseball team for the qualifying tournament for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[16] He started all four of Team USA's games and led the team with a .444 batting average (8–18), six runs scored, and six RBIs.[17]

Player profile

Williams is a utility player who enjoyed playing in a variety of positions, which has made him a useful bench player for the Phillies. He was inspired to take on a "super-utility" role after learning that Ben Zobrist spent 14 years in MLB while playing whatever position was asked of him.[18] Williams' versatility on defense, as well as his speed, have also drawn praise from retired Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who wrote a scouting report that complimented Williams' ability to "run and do a lot of different things".[19]

Personal life

Williams has two brothers named Ike and Jake and a sister named Sami. Sami plays college softball for the Iowa State Cyclones, and in 2021, she became the first National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American softball player in school history.[20]

References
  1. Breen, Matt (June 9, 2015). "Five things to know about Phillies pick Luke Williams". Inquirer.com.
  2. "MLB: Williams Signs With Phillies". Dana Point Times. June 26, 2015.
  3. Percy, Nathan (April 10, 2015). "Diamond Thief: Luke Williams is cementing a baserunning legacy at Dana Hills". Orange County Register.
  4. "Dana Hills' Luke Williams drafted 83rd overall, Crouse taken in the 11th round". Orange County Register. June 11, 2015.
  5. "Cutters' notebook: Williams adjusting at third". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. June 17, 2016.
  6. "Luke Williams Minor & Fall League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  7. "Fightin Phils should have familiar look — once they arrive". Reading Eagle. April 8, 2020.
  8. Callis, Jim (March 11, 2020). "Phillies prospect report from Spring Training". MLB.com.
  9. Balnar, Eric (November 22, 2020). ""Super Utility" Phillie Luke Williams signs with Giants". AdelaideGiants.au. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  10. Callis, Jim; Mayo, Jonathan; Dykstra, Sam (April 1, 2021). "Here is the best athlete in each farm system". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  11. Housenick, Tom (May 5, 2021). "IronPig Luke Williams' versatility came at a young age". The Morning Call. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  12. Breen, Matt (June 8, 2021). "Phillies promote Luke Williams, who brings eight gloves and can play almost every position". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  13. Grotz, Bob (June 9, 2021). "Williams, Scioscia's 'kind of player,' makes exciting Phillies debut". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  14. Gardner, Steve (June 9, 2021). "Philadelphia Phillies rookie makes first MLB home run a walk-off to beat Braves". USA Today. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  15. Lauber, Scott (August 4, 2021). "Phillies' Luke Williams following closely as Team USA chases a medal in the Olympics baseball tournament". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  16. Breen, Matt (May 26, 2021). "Phillies prospect Luke Williams has Joe Girardi's attention". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  17. Breen, Matt (June 7, 2021). "Phillies prospect Luke Williams helped Team USA return to the Olympics". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  18. Breen, Matt (May 26, 2021). "Phillies prospect Luke Williams has Joe Girardi's attention". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  19. Salisbury, Jim (June 8, 2021). "Phillies notes: Hot hitter promoted, Howard to start vs. Yankees". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  20. Gelb, Matt (June 10, 2021). "A 6-year grind, then goosebumps: Phillies' Luke Williams, his family, and scouts savor a dream journey". The Athletic. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
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