Oakland A’s giving Garrett Williams a chance
Sometimes, all a player needs is a different organization for everything to fall into place. The Oakland A’s are hoping that is the case with Garrett Williams.
According to his transaction log, the A’s signed Williams to a minor league contract. He has been assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas at this point, although that could change depending on the spring.
Oakland A’s hoping Garrett Williams can be diamond in the rough
Williams’ career began back in 2016 as a seventh round draft pick by the Giants. He spent four years in their organization before heading to the Cardinals prior to the 2021 season. Williams has spent the last two seasons in the Cardinals’ organization, bouncing between Double-A and Triple-A.
He has not had much success at the highest level of the minors. Williams has posted a 6.75 ERA and a 1.838 WHiP over his 80 innings in Triple-A. While he has struck out 93 batters, he has also issued 70 walks, hit 12 batters, and uncorked nine wild pitches. It is clear that his command issues have held him back from reaching his potential.
At the same time, it is impossible to ignore his strikeout potential considering his minor league numbers. Despite not knowing where the ball was going to end up, he has a 10.5 K/9 rate in Triple-A. His fastball, changeup, and curve are all solid offerings and Williams does a good job of keeping hitters off balance.
It is just a matter of being able to harness his stuff. The A’s are hoping that will be the case as they work with Williams to unlock that potential. If he can improve his command and start to find success in Triple-A, he could end up being a surprise.
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The Oakland A’s have signed Garrett Williams to a minor league deal. If he can harness his command, he has the potential to be a diamond in the rough.