The Road to The Show™: Rays’ Williams
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at second-ranked Rays prospect Carson Williams. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. Carson Williams is set to take on the upper
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at second-ranked Rays prospect Carson Williams. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here.
Carson Williams is set to take on the upper levels of the Minors as he enters his third full professional season.
The 20-year-old has played just 10 games above the High-A level, but the Rays have considerably less depth at the shortstop position than when Williams was drafted in 2021.
As a Draft prospect, Williams’ hit tool was graded better than his power. But those grades have swapped after his three seasons in the Minors.
MLB Pipeline’s No. 20 overall prospect has 42 homers and 47 doubles while producing a .482 slugging percentage in 239 career games so far. While he’s hitting the ball with authority, he’s also struck out in more than 31 percent of his plate appearances.
Although the strikeout figures are suboptimal and certainly his biggest need for improvement, Williams is already an effective hitter with a well-rounded skill set.
He is one of only five players in the Minors to record at least 19 homers, 20 stolen bases and 20 doubles in each of the past two seasons. Williams is also the only Gold Glover among that group, which includes No. 76 overall prospect Ceddanne Rafaela, a 70-grade defender in his own right.
The book on Williams’ defensive talent and arm strength has remained consistent since his amateur days. He posted a better fielding percentage (.982) at shortstop last year than when he earned the Gold Glove at the position in 2022.
Williams, who threw a mid-90s fastball and was thought by some scouts to be better suited for a career as a pitcher, also has the highest-graded arm strength (65) among MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 shortstop prospects.
“Some of our staff have said that he’s got the best all-around tools in this organization,” Rays director of Minor League operations George Pappas told MLB.com in December. “He’s shown some real maturation … but you still take all those intangibles.”
The San Diego native earned some national acclaim as a two-way player at Torrey Pines High School in California. He cemented his status as an early-round talent after following up a brilliant fall with an even better spring during his senior year.
Williams claimed MVP honors at the Perfect Game World Wood Bat Association World Championship in October, then batted .495 with 11 homers, 34 stolen bases and a .979 slugging percentage in his final high-school season.
MLB Pipeline ranked the 6-foot-1, 180-pound shortstop as the No. 41 prospect in the 2021 Draft class. The Rays selected Williams with the No. 28 overall pick, and he signed a week later for a below-slot bonus of $2,347,500, joining a system that already featured a number of high-profile shortstop prospects.
After signing, Williams reported to the Florida Complex League. He finished his season with an 11-game stint on the Rookie-level circuit, recording a .282/.404/.436 slash line with four doubles and eight RBIs. He also struck out 13 times in 39 plate appearances.
Williams spent all of his first full season in 2022 with Single-A Charleston, helping the River Dogs to a Carolina League championship during his Gold Glove year. He hit 19 homers and stole 28 bases while batting .252 with an .818 OPS. Williams also crushed solo shots in both games of Charleston’s championship series sweep of Lynchburg.
But he also had a 32.1 percent strikeout rate and whiffed 168 times in the regular season -- the most in the system -- and was set down on strikes nine times in 18 plate appearances in the playoffs.
Williams maintained an identical strikeout rate but set personal bests with 23 homers, 81 RBIs and 59 walks across three levels in 2023. He played 105 games with High-A Bowling Green, made a four-game cameo with Triple-A Durham in August and finished the season with Double-A Montgomery.
He hit all of his long balls with Bowling Green and had just one hit in 13 at-bats with Durham. He was excellent in the final regular-season series for Montgomery, collecting nine hits in 21 at-bats (.429), but he struck out in six of his eight at-bats during the Biscuits playoff series against Pensacola.
Williams finished the 2023 season with Peoria in the Arizona Fall League. He drove in six runs but did not homer in 19 games, and his production was likely impacted by his near-37 percent strikeout rate.
“My biggest thing -- there’s no secret -- is the strikeouts,” he told MLB.com at the start of the AFL season in October. “So I went into the offseason and knew I had to work on it as much as I possibly could. It's tough during the offseason without real arms, but you do what you can. Then I came out this year with goals in mind in that aspect, and I accomplished a bunch of them.”
Although he’s not likely to break through to the Majors this season, the Rays have not been shy about promoting a younger infielder for a late-season push, like they did with No. 4 overall prospect Junior Caminero last year. With his impact power and defensive ability, Williams can put himself in that position sometime this season -- especially if he manages to limit his strikeout rate.
Gerard Gilberto is a reporter for MiLB.com.
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and