Rays’ Carson Williams Is Eager To Keep Learning
Shortstop Carson Williams had a lot of hype to live up to this spring as the Rays’ top prospect not named Junior Caminero.
The 20-year-old was one of the youngest players invited to big league camp and was coming off a successful season spent primarily at High-A Bowling Green.
And there was something else—being the favorite player of J.D. Cash, the 11-year-old son of Rays manager Kevin Cash.
“J.D. asks me about Carson Williams, maybe as much as he does Randy (Arozarena),” Cash said with a laugh. “J.D. is pretty good at seeking out talent.”
It’s not hard to see what makes Williams, who began the 2024 season at Double-A Montgomery, so appealing given his smooth glove, strong arm, powerful bat and fast feet.
Plus, his openness to learning and drive to improve.
“We’re really pleased,” Rays senior director of player development Blake Butera said. “He just continues to get better.
“He’s a kid who didn’t really grow up playing a lot of baseball or watching a lot of baseball. So he’s just learning so much.
“You get a lot of kids who have played baseball or been around baseball their whole life, and there’s only so much more that they’re going to learn. Whereas Carson is basically like a blank canvas. He’s eager to learn.
“And there’s so much that he still has yet to learn.”
Williams appreciated the opportunity to play in Grapefruit League games but also the chance to watch, listen to and be around the big league players.
“It’s just super easy with this group of guys, because they’re very open and welcoming,” Williams said. “So you don’t get starstruck when Yandy comes up and gives you a bear hug. He’s just the nicest person that you could possibly imagine.
“It makes you feel comfortable around these guys, and then it makes it even better to learn from them.”
COOL RAYS
— Top catching prospect Dom Keegan was also assigned to Double-A Montgomery, as was lefthander Brendan McKay, who is trying to work his way back to the majors for the first time since 2019 after dealing with multiple arm issues. Slugging first baseman Xavier Isaac opened the season with High-A Bowling Green.
— Righthander Marcus Johnson had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. He spent 2023 at Low-A Charleston and is expected back this season.
