2021 MLB Draft Profile: RHP Gavin Williams, East Carolina

Gavin Williams

This is the third college pitcher I’ve profiled, and all of them have similar frames and stuff. And Gavin Williams has a chance to be the best of the trio.

Previous Profiles

Vitals
6’6, 238 pounds
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
DOB: July 26, 1999

Location
Greenville, N.C.
Year: Junior

Rankings
The Athletic: 54
Baseball America: 30
ESPN: 64
FanGraphs: 19
MLB Pipeline: 31
Perfect Game: 17
Prospects Live: 39

Slot recommended bonus (No. 29): $2,424,600

Note: All information of draft prospects compiled from Internet sources, scouting reports and videos.

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Before a few weeks ago, Williams was a solid MLB Draft prospect. However, a dominant performance against Vanderbilt (7 IP, 1 ER, 13 K), his stock has increased significantly and is firmly a 1st-round prospect. If Keith Law (The Athletic) and Kiley McDaniel (ESPN) updated their rankings, I’m sure Williams would be higher on each list. On the season, he had a 1.99 ERA and struck out 130 hitters in 81 1/3 innings of work.

The physically imposing Williams boasts one of the best pure fastballs in the country, routinely touching 100 MPH. It settles in around the 94-97 MPH range and works well up in the strike zone and also has a little arm side run. His breaking stuff has improved over the course of his college career. His high-spin, high-70s curveball is a weapon against both-handed hitters. It features sharp downward movement and an 11-5 shape. He pairs that with an improving mid-80s slider that looks like a cutter. It still needs some work, but it has the look of a future above-average (or better) offering. He also dabbles with a mid-80s changeup, but it’s far behind the other offspeed pitches.

Williams has a deliberate delivery and good downward plane thanks to his height and near over-the-top release point. His running fastball is sometimes more difficult to command and he can be inconsistent with the release point on his slider. He also has a little bit of crossfire in his delivery. That all leads to some command/control issues, but he has done a good job cleaning up his delivery overall. He has short arm action (despite being so tall) and a very quick arm.

Video

https://twitter.com/mdonodeo2/status/1403899259490013185

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Williams has all the makings of at least a mid-rotation starter. He has the stuff and frame to make the leap at the next level. Whichever team drafts him will have a higher ceiling pitcher who also comes with higher risk. His floor is a late-inning power reliever. At No. 29, he should sign without much issue.

About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 at his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue. He co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a 1-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, Calif.