Taylor Williams Stats & Scouting Report

IP	48
ERA	2.63
WHIP	1.06
BB/9	2.63
SO/9	9.38

Full name Taylor Grant Williams
Born 07/21/1991 in Vancouver, WA
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School Kent State
Debut 09/06/2017
Drafted in the 4th round (122nd overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2013 (signed for $400,000).

View Draft Report

Williams got little playing times as a Washington State freshman in 2011, so he transferred to Mount Hood (Ore.) CC, where he was a starting pitcher and middle infielder. He had played in the New England Collegiate League with Kent State's David Lyon, Tyler Skulina and Derek Toadvine in 2011, and they helped recruit him to the Golden Flashes for his junior season. Skulina will get drafted ahead of him in June, but it's Williams who has been Kent State's best and most consistent starter this spring. Though he's just 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, he can work at 94-95 mph with his lively fastball for a couple of innings before settling in at 90-93. He has effort in his delivery, but he generates his velocity more with his athleticism. Williams pounds the strike zone with his fastball and slider, which can be a plus pitch at times. He also mixes in a changeup against lefthanders. He helped his cause in a February matchup against San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant, striking out the draft's most dangerous hitter three times. Williams' stature and competitive nature lead most scouts to project him as a future reliever.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

In the early weeks of his first big league camp in 2015, Williams looked quite impressive. He may have overdid things trying to impress the coaching staff, however, because his elbow began bothering him once reassigned to minor league camp. Williams remained in extended spring training as the season began, but when physical therapy and a platelet-rich plasma injection weren't successful, he succumbed to Tommy John surgery in August. The timing could not have been worse for Williams, because it will force him out of action for all of 2016 as well. By the time he returns to the mound in 2017, he will be approaching his 26th birthday. When healthy, Williams flashes a fastball in the mid-90s and can tough 98 mph, with a plus slider and effective changeup. He pounds the strike zone, issuing few walks while keeping the ball down and in the park. He is athletic and fields his position well and knows what he's doing on the mound. Because of his smallish, 5-foot-11 frame, some have projected him to a relief role.
Williams might be smallish in stature, but he stood tall on the mound in 2014 and made a huge leap in the eyes of the organization. Working in low Class A Wisconsin's tandem starter sytem, he established himself as one of the best arms in the Midwest League, compiling a 0.94 WHIP while holding opponents to a .201 average. He struggled in five starts at high Class A Brevard County, but that did little to diminish the 2013 fourth-rounder's breakthrough season. Williams not only has a big fastball that reaches 95 mph consistently (even touching 100) and sits at 92, but he has outstanding command of his pitches. He pounds the zone with his fastball and slider, using both sides of the plate effectively. Because Williams keeps his pitches down, for the most part, he tends not to get hurt by home runs. His slider is a big out pitch against righthanders, and he keeps lefties off his hard stuff with an effective changeup. He played some middle infield as an amateur, so he's athletic and fields his position well. The Brewers like his aggressive nature on the mound, constantly pitching ahead in the count. Because of Williams' lack of size, some scouts see his future in the majors as a reliever, but the Brewers think he has the stuff to be a starter, particularly the way he commands his pitches. They plan to keep him in in the rotation at Double-A Biloxi in 2015.
Sometimes, big things come in small packages. Listed at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Williams has a big fastball, which was one of the reasons the Brewers were glad to select him in the fourth round of the 2013 draft out of Kent State. He originally went to Washington State but didn't play much, so he transferred to Mount Hood (Ore.) CC, where he was a starter and middle infielder. He eventually followed some New England Collegiate League teammates to KSU, where as a junior he served as the most consistent starter for the Golden Flashes. Williams' draft stock rose considerably in a game against San Diego, when he struck out College Player of the Year Kris Bryant three times. He can run his fastball up to 94-95 mph with good life, but he sits mostly at 90-92. He features some effort in his delivery, but Williams also has good athleticism. He throws strikes, pounding the zone with his fastball and slider, which is a big out-pitch against righthanders. To keep lefthanders off his heater, he mixes in changeups. Because of Williams' combination of smallish stature and live fastball, many scouts project him as a reliever. For now, the Brewers plan to continue starting him, with the next step being low Class A Wisconsin in 2014.

Draft Prospects

Williams got little playing times as a Washington State freshman in 2011, so he transferred to Mount Hood (Ore.) CC, where he was a starting pitcher and middle infielder. He had played in the New England Collegiate League with Kent State's David Lyon, Tyler Skulina and Derek Toadvine in 2011, and they helped recruit him to the Golden Flashes for his junior season. Skulina will get drafted ahead of him in June, but it's Williams who has been Kent State's best and most consistent starter this spring. Though he's just 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, he can work at 94-95 mph with his lively fastball for a couple of innings before settling in at 90-93. He has effort in his delivery, but he generates his velocity more with his athleticism. Williams pounds the strike zone with his fastball and slider, which can be a plus pitch at times. He also mixes in a changeup against lefthanders. He helped his cause in a February matchup against San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant, striking out the draft's most dangerous hitter three times. Williams' stature and competitive nature lead most scouts to project him as a future reliever.

Career Transactions

Algodoneros Union Laguna activated RHP Taylor Williams from the reserve list.
Algodoneros Union Laguna placed RHP Taylor Williams on the reserve list.
RHP Taylor Williams assigned to Algodoneros Union Laguna.
Tacoma Rainiers placed RHP Taylor Williams on the 60-day injured list.
Tacoma Rainiers transferred RHP Taylor Williams to the Development List.
RHP Taylor Williams assigned to Tacoma Rainiers.
Tacoma Rainiers activated RHP Taylor Williams.
RHP Taylor Williams roster status changed by Seattle Mariners.
Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Taylor Williams to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.