Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The 2021 MLB Draft is Sunday, so I’ll either be winding down the profile series or there will be a flurry of last-minute profiles on these prospects. Today is the latter, as we look at prep shortstop/right-handed pitcher Carson Williams.
Previous Profiles
- Sam Bachman (June 9)
- Chase Petty (June 11)
- Jaden Hill (June 15)
- Jud Fabian (June 16)
- Adrian Del Castillo (June 18)
- Ryan Cusick (June 21)
- Peyton Stovall (June 23)
- Gavin Williams (June 25)
- Max Muncy (July 7)
Vitals
6’2, 180 pounds
Position: Shortstop/right-handed pitcher
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
DOB: June 25, 2003
Location
San Diego, Calif.
Commitment: University of California, Berkeley
Rankings
The Athletic: NR
Baseball America: 41
Baseball Prospectus: 36
CBS Sports: 29
ESPN: 38
FanGraphs: 30
MLB Pipeline: 41
Perfect Game: 29
Prospects Live: 48
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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There are a lot of really good prep shortstops available in this draft — including quite a few from California. Williams isn’t the best of them, but he’s one of the most dynamic. He was named MVP of the Perfect Game World Wood Bat Association Championship Game in October, which pinged a bunch of scouting radars.
He’s similar to Muncy, whom I profiled a couple days ago. He does a lot of things well with a mature approach. The present power is lacking, but most believe he’ll add it once his projectable frame fills out — he just turned 18 a few weeks ago. Scouts have put a plus-grade on his raw power. He has already added weight from when he won the WWBA MVP and has positioned himself as a better position player prospect than pitching prospect. His feel for hitting is somewhat rare when it comes to prep players, and you know he’s playing against good competition with California being one of the nation’s baseball hotbeds. He has quick hands and generates impressive bat speed. That lends itself to a strong future offensive profile.
Defensively, Williams has plenty of arm to stick at shortstop and the athleticism to match. He has good hands but isn’t the quickest when it comes to first step and overall speed. He’s an average-to-above-average runner who should be just fine at shortstop. If he has to slide over to third base or move to second base, he should have plenty of bat for either spot. On the mound, Williams has been clocked as high as 95 MPH with his fastball and his slider has flashed above-average. His desire is to be an everyday player, so the pitching part of his profile is more of a fallback option rather than him attempting to be a true 2-way player.
Video
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Williams has the makings of a solid everyday shortstop with developing power. The profile is a bit similar to Gavin Lux coming out of school, with Williams looking like a better shortstop with a superior arm. He’s committed to Cal, but No. 29 bonus money could see him forego that to begin his MLB career. I might be a little higher on him for the Dodgers than others.
