Carson Williams won’t be the first player ever drafted from Torrey Pines High School in San Diego. However, he has the potential to be the second alum selected within the first two rounds of the draft. The Falcons have produced 11 players selected out of the high school, dating back to the 1995 selection of Chad Hutchinson late in the first round. The 6’2″ righthander finished his varsity career with a 1.24 ERA across 23 appearances. Although Williams pitched well for the Falcons, he is positioned to be drafted as a shortstop. He slashed .397/.491/.737 during his final three years and went .495/.598/.979 across 31 games his senior year. Williams committed to UC-Berkeley, where he would join a talented pitching staff if he opts not to sign after the draft. He is currently ranked as the 41st-best prospect on the draft board at MLB.com
Strengths
While Carson Williams has a mid-90’s fastball, a changeup that he throws at 80 mph, and a good feel for his slider, pitching will be the backup plan. Should he fail to make it as a shortstop, it’s certainly possible that he could develop into a major league reliever. It’s his potential as an everyday player that puts him among the Top 50 on most draft boards. Williams has excellent bat speed and bat control with a firm grasp of the strike zone. He performs well in terms of pitch recognition and has a repeatable approach at the plate. He hits line drives with power to the gaps.
Although Williams projects to be a solid hitter, he really stands out as a defender. He has a plus arm and soft hands. His footwork is above average, and his range is solid. In short, the team that drafts Williams should have a smooth shortstop who fields the ball cleanly and makes accurate throws.
Weaknesses
The biggest knock on Williams’ game is the lack of power. Weighing in at 180 pounds, it’s not hard to imagine him filling out his frame and developing more pop as time goes on. Still, he projects as more of a doubles hitter. It’s unlikely he will hit more than a dozen home runs in a year. Additionally, his speed on the bases leaves a little to be desired considering the quickness he displays while fielding. Scouts grade his power tool a 45/80 and his speed a 50/80 so he is average at best in both categories.
MLB Comp
The range of comps for Williams is varied. Much of this hinges on his development as a hitter as there is little doubt the defense will be solid. Trea Turner and Jordy Mercer are both reasonable starting points, but they are both flawed comparisons. Turner has a similar build, but both his batting average and power numbers may be difficult for Williams to match. Mercer’s offensive production is more realistic as a comparison–a .257 average and 11 home runs a year are both reasonable. Williams could surpass Mercer’s numbers though. Additionally, Williams could easily be the best defender of the three.
Although some projections place him as early as the #29 pick for the Los Angeles Dodgers, most mocks predict that he will be selected in the middle of the second round.
Players Mentioned: Chad Hutchinson, Trea Turner, Jordy Mercer
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
